Emerging and New Treatment Options for Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent type of arthritis worldwide, resulting in pain and often chronic disability and a significant burden on healthcare systems globally. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), analgesics, intra-articular corticosteroid injections are of little value in the long term, and opioids may have ominous consequences. Radiotherapy of knee OA has no added value. Physical therapy, exercises, weight loss, and lifestyle modifications may give pain relief, improve physical functioning and quality of life. However, no single treatment has regenerating potential for damaged articular cartilage. Due to a better understanding of osteoarthritis, innovative new treatment options have been developed. In this narrative review, we focus on emerging OA knee treatments, relieving symptoms, and regenerating damaged articular cartilage that includes intra-articular human serum albumin, conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), lipid-lowering agents (statin), nerve growth factors antagonists, bone morphogenetic protein, fibroblast growth factors, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC), exosomes, interleukin-1 blockers, gene-based therapy, and bisphosphonate.

Is the Combination of Platelet-Rich Plasma and Hyaluronic Acid the Best Injective Treatment for Grade II-III Knee Osteoarthritis? A Prospective Study

“…In particular, the knee is the most frequent location for osteoarthritis, as its prevalence in adults is around 6%, rising as high as 40% among the 70-to-74-year-olds [5][6][7]. Knee osteoarthritis thereby represents a burden for national health systems, as it can lead to serious disability caused by increasing pain and progressive articular stifness that may limit patients' autonomy and thereby have a negative impact on their quality of life [8][9][10][11][12]. Te therapeutic goal for those cases that sufer from mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis is to alleviate the signs and symptoms of the disease and, if possible, to slow its progression.…”

Effect of Acupuncture on the Cognitive Control Network of Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

“… 7 The aim of KOA treatment is to provide symptomatic pain relief, improve knee function, and improve the patient’s quality of life. 8 At present, the treatment methods for KOA mainly include self-management including proper diet, weight loss and control poor posture, etc. 9 scientific exercise including aerobic exercise and joint range of motion training, etc.…”

Oleanolic acid, a small-molecule natural product, inhibits ECM degeneration in osteoarthritis by regulating the Hippo/YAP and Wnt/β-catenin pathways

“…4 Unfortunately, treatment options are limited by high toxicity and intolerable side effects. 5 Therefore, despite many advances in therapies for OA, 6,7 new therapeutic agents with low toxicity and minimal side effects still need to be developed.…”