Autologous stem cell therapy means your own stem cells are used to treat you. In other words, the donor is also the recipient. Over ten years ago, I started aspirating a patient’s own bone marrow as the source of stem cells for diminishing the symptoms and improving function in an osteoarthritic joint. Two years ago, I was a co-investigator in a clinical trial utilizing autologous adipose (belly fat) derived stem cell treatment for the arthritic knee. Trial participants had their fat collected via small liposuction. The fat was processed at the Personalized Stem Cells, FDA inspected cleanroom facility. Stem cells were extracted and concentrated to create what was required for the study as well as stored for possible future use. The processed cells were checked for Quality and Safety before they were allowed to be used. One dose of a participant’s personal cells was then shipped to me for injection into the participant’s knee and outcome data (results) were captured.
Treatment Now and in the Future
Your stem cells are only used to treat you. The additional goal of the first trial was to store cells from all clinical trial participants so that cells could potentially be used for future treatments and medical conditions. One fat collection could potentially provide you with a lifetime of stem cell treatments. The plan for the next clinical trial is in development; hopefully to be a reality by mid-summer. With FDA approval, we can not only begin recruiting patients for the trial; we will be able to make use of the banked cells from the participants in the first trial. To meet enrollment criteria, an office visit is required to make sure the patient meets FDA inclusion criteria; pre-enrollment imaging and laboratory testing are required.
Having your cells stored could provide the opportunity to receive treatment for other joints and other conditions as additional uses are developed and approved. On a personal note, I will be partaking in the upcoming Clinical Trial by having my own stem cells harvested and stored to be used once the FDA allows such for arthritic knees. The remaining cells will be stored for future use in my hips.
Meeting Inclusion Criteria
A word of caution. Over 60% of patients age 60 or greater will have a meniscal “tear” described by the radiologist interpreting the required pre-enrollment MRI. The job of the PSC clinical investigator is to determine if the meniscal pathology is a source of “mechanical” symptoms or merely a commonly described MRI observation with aging. Should the “torn” meniscus result in abnormal joint function, then arthroscopic prior correction may be indicated. It may be wise to schedule your prescreening earlier than you had planned so you won’t be excluded from the upcoming stem cell trial. Incidentally, if you don’t meet The Trial inclusion criteria, we still have Bone Marrow Concentrate and autologous blood-derived biologics as treatment options.
You may learn more by accessing my website www.sheinkopmd.com. The updates regarding the Personalized Stem Cell trial may be found at www.personalizedstemcells.com
To schedule a consultation or office visit call (312) 475-1893