Stem Cells Treatment: Past, Present and Future

Alberto Gobbi, Mudhigere Abhishek & Georgios Karnatzikos In view of high costs and complexities involved in the treatment of OA, current trend in research is moving towards preventive interventions and therapeutic solutions that can lead to an enhancement of tissue regeneration and reduction of degenerative mechanisms. The number of people with OA disability is expected to double by the year 2020,14 thereby increasing the already significant economic burden of OA. In the US osteoarthritis (OA) medicines cost $5.31 billion dollars in 2007 and muscoloskeletal conditions including OA results in nearly $86.2 billion per year in direct medical expenses i.e. total joint replacement procedures and loss of income and production.15