The Mode of Actions of the Current Point-of-Care Treatments for Osteoarthritis of the Knee - Hardcover

by Masato Sato (Guest Editor)

Point-of-care treatments are now the focus of attention for osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK). Cellular therapies, which can be performed on an outpatient clinic basis, are rapidly expanding in free practice. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy for OAK is a prime example of such therapies. It is seen as an unmet medical need that fills the gap between surgical and conservative therapy. In other words, even though it is not an innovative regenerative medicine and cannot improve the disease itself by modifying the tissue structure, point-of-care cell therapy appears to have become an established treatment, advanced by patients' desire for some improvement in symptoms without the need for surgery. This Special Issue covers the current use of point-of-care therapies and potential future candidates, from basic research to clinical practice.