Pulsed electromagnetic fields reduce knee osteoarthritic lesion progression in the aged Dunkin Hartley guinea pig

Abstract

An experimental in vivo study was performed to test if the effect of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMFs) on chondrocyte metabolism and adenosine A2a agonist activity could have a chondroprotective effect on the knee of Dunkin Hartley guinea-pigs of 12 months with spontaneously developed osteoarthritis (OA). After a pilot study, 10 animals were randomly divided into two groups: PEMF-treated group (6 hlday for 3 months) and Sham-treated group. Microradiography and histomorphometry were performed on the entire articular surface of knee joints used in evaluating chondropathy severity, cartilage thickness (CT), cartilage surface Fibrillation Index (FI), subchondral bone plate thickness (SBT) and histomorphometric characteristics of trabecular epiphyseal bone. The PEMF-treated animals showed a significant reduction of chondropathy progression in all knee examined areas (p < 0.05). CT was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the medial tibia plateaus of the PEMF-treated group when compared to the Sham-treated group. The highest value of FI was observed in the medial tibia plateau of the Sham-treated group (p < 0.05). Significant lower values were observed in SBT of PEMF-treated group in comparison to Sham-treated group in all knee examined areas (p < 0.05). The present study results show that PEMFs preserve the morphology of articular cartilage and slower the progression of OA lesions in the knee of aged osteoarthritic guinea pigs. The chondroprotective effect of PEMFs was demonstrated not only in the medial tibia1 plateau but also on the entire articular surface of the knee.

Is There any Role for Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields in the Treatment of Early Osteoarthritis of the Knee?

“…This has been demonstrated in both bovine and human chondrocytes and synovial fibroblasts [11,23]. The modulation of these receptors is possibly one of the mechanisms by which the PEMF counteracts the effect of pro-inflammatory cytokines in explants of cartilage and synovial fibroblasts and prevents the progression to OA [7,11,12]. On the other hand, bovine and human models have shown that PEMFs through a synergy with insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) exerts a pro-anabolic activity enhancing chondrogenic differentiation and synthesis of extra-cellular matrix component [9,10,24].…”

“…In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated an influence on cartilage metabolism through pro-anabolic and anti-catabolic activity, which has generated interest in the use of PEMFs [7][8][9][10][11][12]. PEMFs were introduced in the clinical setting in the 1970s as a successful method for treatment of non-union and delayed union of fractures; the effects on focal cartilage lesions of the knee remain unknown while studies on OA are equivocal [13][14][15][16][17][18][19].…”

Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy results in healing of full thickness articular cartilage defect

“…With regard to in vivo studies, publications so far are on the same animal model [7,11,12]. Further studies in large animals are required.…”

“…In vitro culture models have shown an increase in growth factor synthesis when human chondrocytes are exposed to magnetic field [9]. Although in vitro effects of PEMFs on articular cartilage are proven, there are very few in vivo studies proving its efficacy [7,11].…”

Does electromagnetic therapy meet an equivalent counterpart within the organism?

“…Positive PEMF influence is also reported on the anabolic activity of chondrocytes, a chondroprotective effect is observed on joint cartilage and on spontaneous osteoarthritis in animal models [83][84][85][86][87][88][89][90][91]. At the same time, the catabolic effect of IL -1b is reduced [91,92].…”