OA Equine History
How Horses Are Helping Doctors Conquer OA
First demonstrated effective on racehorses in 2000, researchers constructed a benign virus that contained the equine IRAP gene sequence. When injected into horses’ diseased joints, it triggered the horses’ own DNA to manufacture more IL-1Ra.
Results showed decreased pain (measured by degree of lameness), reduced inflammation (measured by reduced joint fluid levels) and fewer disease-related changes to joint tissues. This was boon to the animals’ owners who often have several hundreds of thousands of dollars invested in an individual racehorse.
An early study of Orthokine treatment in racehorses with moderate and severe cartilage erosions and a poor chance for improvement was performed by Dr. Thomas Weinberger, DVM, of the Equine Clinic Burg Mueggenhausen (Germany). The results were impressive.
“Even with the poor prognosis after arthroscopy, the results showed 70% of the horses (walked and ran) without lameness and (went) back to training after the last follow-up Orthokine treatment,” he reported.
Further Studies Confirm Its Effectiveness
Orthokine is rapidly becoming the treatment of choice for horses with OA, outperforming hyaluronic acid (HA) corticosteroids. Best results have occurred in horses non-responsive to other therapies and little chance of improvement.
Several other controlled studies have reported similar results. A 2005 study conducted at Colorado State University concluded horses treated with (IRAP) were observed to significantly improved lameness in osteoarthritis joints (even) weeks after treatment compared placebo-treated horses.” Veterinarians now have documented protocol for treatment, with more than vets offering it as December, 2005. Worldwide, veterinary surgeons have for over three years without negative reactions or effects.
The Only Way to Obtain Human Orthokine Treatment
One can only hope that human Orthokine treatments will become available in the US. But considering the huge loss of income it potentially represents for orthopedic surgeons and the pharmaceutical industry, it is doubtful that FDA approval will happen in the near future.
For now, OA patients wanting Orthokine therapy immediately must travel to Germany, where it is an officially-approved therapy with a decade of successful use. US patients wishing to benefit from Orthokine can make an appointment with The Center for Molecular Orthopaedics, Königsallee Clinic. Travel arrangements are also available.
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Orthokine™ is a brand new treatment that is making a significant impact for people with Osteoarthritis.
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Clinical Research on Orthokine
Official Orthokine Site
Orthokine on About.com
Cartilage Transplantation
Questions about the Treatment?
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Dr. Axel Baltzer
Dr. Axel Baltzer is a Medical Specialist for Orthopaedics/Sports Medicine
