Clinical Outcomes of Adipose-Derived Cell-Based Therapies Versus Platelet-Rich Plasma in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review.
systematic_review · Level I
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 42558512.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1007/s43465-026-01689-2 and PMC identifier 13437814.
- No licence information is recorded for this record.
- Because redistribution is not established, this page shows the abstract only. Follow the links below for the full text.
Abstract
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint condition for which current treatments primarily provide symptom control without restoring cartilage. Biologic injectables such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and adipose-derived cellular preparations have gained interest as potential disease-modifying options. This review compares the current clinical evidence regarding their relative effectiveness. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Europe PMC, and CNKI were searched. Eligible studies were level 1-2 clinical trials directly comparing PRP with adipose-derived cell-based therapies in knee OA. Pain, function, quality of life, sports activity, and complications were assessed. Quality was evaluated using MINORS. Three studies (two hundred forty-one knees) were included, all high quality (MINORS 19-24). Both PRP and adipose-derived cell-based therapies significantly improved pain, function, and quality of life with no reported complications. Two studies showed no difference between PRP and microfragmented or autologous adipose tissue (MFAT/AAT) at 6-12 months. One study found culture-expanded adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) provided greater improvements in pain (WOMAC, VAS), stiffness, and several SF-36 domains compared with PRP at 6 months. PRP and adipose-derived cell-based therapies are safe and effective for knee OA. PRP offers a minimally invasive, cost-effective option with outcomes comparable to MFAT and AAT. ADSCs may provide superior symptom relief but involve greater complexity and cost. Larger, standardized trials with longer follow-up are needed to confirm long-term efficacy.