Genicular artery embolization improves knee function for 3 months in knee osteoarthritis patients

This study was a prospective, single-arm, open-label, multicenter, first-in-human cohort trial. The main inclusion criterion was a diagnosis of KOA with a VAS pain score of ≥40 mm despite conservative treatment for at least three months. Treatment efficacy was assessed using changes in VAS pain score, normalized WOMAC function score (ranging from 0-100), and OMERACT-OARSI responder criteria.

Key findings from this study are:

• Twenty-two patients with a mean age of 66 years were included and underwent GAE.
• The emulsion consisted of a mixture of ioversol and ethiodized oil in a ratio of 1:3, which was prepared extemporaneously.
• The serious adverse events rate attributed to GAE within one month was 5%, with reversible worsening of renal function. The immediate technical success rate was 100%.
• The mean VAS pain score dropped from 74.4 ± 16.5 mm to 37.2 ± 26.7 mm (from baseline to three months).
• The mean WOMAC function score decreased from 57.3 ± 17.1 to 33.5 ± 25.9 at three months.
• At three months, 16/22 participants (73%) were considered responders according to the OMERACT-OARSI set of responder criteria, including high improvement in either pain or WOMAC function or improvement in both.

In conclusion, they wrote, "Our study highlighted that Genicular artery embolization is a new treatment modality for managing cases of KOA. They found ethiodized oil-based emulsion to be safe in the treatment.

Reference:

Sapoval et al. Genicular artery embolization for knee osteoarthritis: Results of the LipioJoint-1 trial. Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging.