MFAT vs. BMAC: Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy Showdown for Osteoarthritis Treatment
Review of “Functional Outcomes Following Microfragmented Adipose Tissue Versus Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Injections for Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis” from STEM CELLS Translational Medicine by Stuart P. Atkinson
Osteoarthritis, a chronic degenerative disease of the articular cartilage, currently affects an estimated 30 million U.S. adults and costs over $185 billion a year to treat [1]; however, conventional conservative interventions often lack the ability to prevent the progression of osteoarthritis or providing long‐term improvements in pain and function [2]. Recent advances in treatments for osteoarthritis include therapies based on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from the bone marrow or adipose tissue; but while both studies and clinical trials have provided evidence of the safety of said strategies [3, 4], we still require further data and well‐conducted trials to confirm their therapeutic utility.