Autologous stromal vascular fraction therapy for rheumatoid arthritis: rationale and clinical safety.

Int Arch Med. 2012 Feb 8;5(1):5. [Epub ahead of print]

Paz Rodriguez J, Murphy MP, Hong S, Madrigal M, March KL, Minev B, Harman RJ, Chen CS, Timmons RB, Marleau AM, Riordan NH.

ABSTRACT: Advancements in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment protocols and introduction of targeted biological therapies have markedly improved patient outcomes, despite this, up to 50% of patients still fail to achieve a significant clinical response. In veterinary medicine, stem cell therapy in the form of autologous stromal vascular fraction (SVF) is an accepted therapeutic modality for degenerative conditions with 80% improvement and no serious treatment associated adverse events reported. Clinical translation of SVF therapy relies on confirmation of veterinary findings in targeted patient populations. Here we describe the rationale and preclinical data supporting the use of autologous SVF in treatment of RA, as well as provide 1, 3, 6, and 13 month safety outcomes in 13 RA patients treated with this approach.

PMID: 22313603 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

FULL TEXT: http://www.intarchmed.com/content/pdf/1755-7682-5-5.pdf