Orthokine Therapy for treating Osteoarthritis
India 18 October 2016: The very successful “Orthokine Therapy” from Germany is being introduced in India for the first time. Dr. Madan Mohan Reddy, MD, Sunway Medical Centre and well-known Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon is tying up with a German company - Orthogen Lab Services, who will provide the kit through the Indian associate ‘Q Med Solution’. The therapy is highly effective in treating joint pain, cartilage breakdown and inflammation.
From L to R: Mr. Sathesh Parameshwaran, Director, Q Med Solution, Dr. Madan Mohan Reddy, MD, Sunway Medical Centre, Dr. Hendrik Ronsch, MD, Orthogen Lab Servies GmbH and Mr . Arcind Srinivasan, Director, Q Med Solution.
Talking about the proven efficacy and treatment methodology of Orthokine, Dr. Madan Mohan Reddy said, “Orthokine therapy consists of obtaining “antiarthritis proteins” and growth factors from the patient’s own blood, and then injecting these endogenous substances back into the affected joint.
Blood is collected from a vein in the patient’s arm using a special syringe. The syringe containing the blood is stored for several hours in an insulated container at body temperature (incubation). During this time, the blood cells in the syringe are encouraged, by a complex mechanism, to produce high levels of the “good” proteins. After this, the sample is centrifuged to separate solid components of the blood from the serum. The serum contains elevated concentrations of the patient’s own – or endogenous – “good” proteins, which are beneficial for osteoarthritis treatment. Finally, the serum is filled into syringes and subsequently administered directly to the affected joint by injection.
The “anti-arthritis proteins” attach to very specific sites (receptors) on the cartilage and synovial membrane cells, thereby preventing the damaging, pro-inflammatory proteins from attacking these cells. Because they are administered directly to the joint, the protective proteins act where they are needed to prevent further cartilage breakdown, inflammation and pain. This method harnesses the body’s own natural medicine to treat osteoarthritis.
Dr. Hendrik Ronsch, MD, Orthogen Lab Servies GmbH said, “This therapy was developed during the 1990s by Prof. Peter Wehling (USA) in Düsseldorf, Germany for the treatment of orthopaedic diseases of humans and also animals. This therapy is successfully used by many specialists in almost 30 countries around the world now. About 100,000 patients and 60,000 horses have been treated with this special biological therapy.”
Dr. Hendrik added, “Orthokine therapy supports the body’s natural healing mechanism by supplying increased levels of anti-arthritis proteins to joints affected. Patients usually receive a series of 4 injections into the affected joint, usually over 3 weeks. Results are generally apparent within a maximum of 6 weeks. Pain, inflammation and swelling are noticeably reduced, and mobility of the affected joint improves. Some patients notice improvement after the first few injections. The improvement in symptoms can normally be expected to last anywhere from six months to as much as two years or even longer.
“No serious side effects specific for Orthokine therapy have been observed because the serum contains no foreign substances. Orthokine therapy is recommended for treatment of osteoarthritis in the early stage when joint cartilage is only damaged moderately. This method is not recommended when cartilage loss is already very advanced. When bone is rubbing on bone, joint replacement is usually the treatment of choice.
Mr. Sathesh Parameshwaran, Director, Q Med Solution said that they have plans to rope in100 hospitals in South India to provide this therapy to patients, by the end of March 2017. The cost of the entire therapy would be Rs. 30,000.