Effectiveness and safety of mesenchymal stem cells versus hyaluronic acid for treating knee osteoarthritis: a Meta-analysis / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To systematically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of intra-articular in-jection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and hyaluronic acid (HA) in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.Methods:The relevant literatures published in both English and Chinese were systematically searched in PubMed, Embase, Wanfang database, China Knowledge Network (CNKI), SinoMed database and other data-bases from inception to May 2020. Two researchers independently extracted data and evaluated the included literature. Risk assessment of literature bias was carried out. RevMan 5.3 software was used for Meta analysis, and the combined sensitivity were calculated.Results:Finally, 13 references were included, including a total of 726 patients with knee osteoarthritis. Meta-analysis results showed that compared with the HA group, the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteopathic Index Total Score (WOMAC) [ MD=-10.92, 95% CI (-16.87, -4.96), P<0.01], the visual analogue scale (VAS) score [ MD=-1.70, 95% CI(-2.44, -0.95), P<0.01], and the knee joint Lequesne index score of MSCs group all decreased significantly [ MD=-13.78, 95% CI (-15.03,-12.52), P<0.01]. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events (AEs) between the two groups [ RR=1.11, 95% CI(0.90, 1.37), P=0.33]. However, American Knee Association Score (AKS score) [ MD=-10.15, 95% CI(-22.33, 2.03), P=0.10] and whole-organ magnetic resonance imaging score (WORMS) [ MD=-3.93, 95% CI(-11.60, 3.75), P=0.32] were not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Compared with intra-articular injection of HA, intra-articular injection of MSCs can significantly improve the symptoms and dysfunction, and has favorable clinical tolerability and safety, suggesting that MSCs is expected to bea new treatment for knee osteoarthritis.