Year: 2026 | Month: June | Volume: 13 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 542-548
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20260652
The Differences in Cartilaginous Oligomeric Matrix Protein Levels and Womac Scores in Knee OA Patients 3 Months After Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome Injection Compared with Hyaluronic Acid Injection
Andrew Sutheno1, I Gusti Ngurah Wien Aryana1, Made Bramantya Karna1
1Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University/Ngoerah Hospital, Denpasar, Indonesia.
Corresponding Author: Andrew Sutheno
ABSTRACT
Current management of knee osteoarthritis (OA) remains limited in its ability to halt disease progression. Emerging regenerative therapies, particularly mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived secretome injections, aim to reduce joint degeneration and delay the need for knee arthroplasty. This study aimed to compare the clinical and biochemical outcomes of intra-articular MSC secretome injections versus hyaluronic acid (HA) viscosupplementation in patients with grade II–III knee OA. A prospective cohort study was conducted involving 37 patients diagnosed with grade II–III knee OA. Participants were allocated into two groups based on treatment received: intra-articular hyaluronic acid or MSC secretome injection. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), while biochemical changes were evaluated by measuring synovial fluid cartilaginous oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) levels. Assessments were performed at baseline and 3 months post-intervention. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 29.0. Both groups demonstrated improvement in clinical and biochemical parameters; however, patients receiving MSC secretome injections showed a significantly greater reduction in WOMAC scores and synovial COMP levels compared to the hyaluronic acid group (p < 0.05). Intra-articular MSC secretome injections resulted in superior clinical and biochemical outcomes compared to hyaluronic acid in patients with grade II–III knee osteoarthritis. These findings suggest that MSC secretome may serve as a promising regenerative therapy to alleviate symptoms and potentially slow disease progression.
Keywords: COMP level, hyaluronic acid, MSC secretome, Osteoarthritis, WOMAC score
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