Research Update: Preventing Equine Osteoarthritis

While many treatment options exist for osteoarthritis, no technique effectively returns damaged cartilage to its original state. Stem cell therapy holds promise for helping arthritic horses, yet many hurdles block progress in this field, as highlighted in a recent article*.

“Current treatment options for osteoarthritis include systemic or intra-articular administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, high-quality hyaluronan supplements such as Synovate HA, corticosteroids, and other joint supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate found in KER-Flex,” shared Laura Petroski, B.V.M.S., a veterinarian at Kentucky Equine Research.

Regenerative therapies such as platelet-rich plasma and stem cell therapy hold promise not only for slowing the progression of disease but also as a potential cure.

“Stem cells, often referred to as mesenchymal stem cells, obtained from bone marrow, supply growth factors, regenerative cells, and other ‘ingredients’ necessary for cartilage repair and regeneration,” explained Petroski.

According to the researchers, “Regenerative therapies have been used with an assumption that mesenchymal stem cells possess the potential to prevent the advancement of cartilage damage and potentially regenerate the injured tissue with an ultimate goal of preventing osteoarthritis.”

The following factors affect the efficacy of stem-cell regenerative medicine:

• Whether the stem cells are obtained from the patient or from another horse, referred to as allogenic and autogenic, respectively;
• Timing of stem-cell implantation relative to disease onset (e.g., culturing stem cells take several weeks, postponing treatment);
• Dose or cell numbers for implantation; and
• Source of stem cells.

Researchers hope to shed light on these factors in the future. In the meantime, a multimodal treatment approach to osteoarthritis generally yield the best outcomes.

“Fish oils contain the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, which benefit horses with osteoarthritis,” noted Petroski. “Be sure to select quality supplements to ensure maximal safety and efficacy.”

In Australia, look for Glucos-A-Flex in addition to Synovate HA and EO-3.

*Zayed, M., S. Adair, T. Ursini, et al. 2018. Concepts and challenges in the use of mesenchymal stem cells as a treatment for cartilage damage in the horse. Research in Veterinary Science 118:317-323.