Reduction of pain markers in knee osteoarthritis observed through GAE therapy
In a groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology on August 12, researchers led by Dr. Bedros Taslakian from Western Ontario and McMaster Universities have found that Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE) significantly reduces key biomarkers that drive pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).
The study involved 25 participants with KOA who had not responded to more than three months of conservative therapy. The clinical success rate, defined as the number of patients who experienced a significant reduction in pain, was 62%. One year after the GAE procedure, 25 participants experienced improvements in pain, stiffness, and function.
The technical success of GAE was 100%, with no significant adverse events reported in the study. The lead researcher, Dr. Taslakian, noted that GAE's potential as a disease-modifying treatment is hinted at by the study's findings.
The observed reductions in serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist (IL-1Ra) levels following GAE may contribute to local pain relief and decreased inflammation in the knee joints. The researchers are investigating the potential roles of VEGF and IL-1Ra as objective predictive biomarkers for treatment response and disease modification.
The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index pain scores improved by 43.7% at 12 months, while the mean Visual Analog Scale pain score for the target knee decreased by 55.4% at the same time. The clinical significance of the observed biomarker reductions after GAE requires further investigation to understand long-term effects.
Knee osteoarthritis is a progressive and debilitating condition with an estimated 642 million cases projected globally by 2050. The study's findings offer a promising avenue for managing this growing health concern.
For those interested, the full study is available for review. [Link to the study]
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