Trial Outcomes & Findings for pAF for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis (NCT NCT04886960)

NCT ID: NCT04886960

Last Updated: 2026-03-27

Results Overview

Participants in both the SOC and pAF treatment arms may require and/or request rescue medication (i.e. SOC injection) at any time and will be given per PI discretion as part of standard of care. The clinicians will not know which study arm the study participant is in but will treat the participant with the SOC injection. This information will be documented and collected in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR), as well as the study's electronic data capture system. Participants will not be given any additional pAF injections throughout the study period. The participant will continue to be treated with SOC injections as needed. The outcome will be an indicator of whether or not a subject received a rescue medication within 6 months.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE1/PHASE2

Target enrollment

60 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

6 months

Results posted on

2026-03-27

Participant Flow

Patients will be screened and consented at the University of Utah Orthopedic Center and all participating sub-investigator's clinics when they come for a standard of care physical exam. During this exam, the patient will be asked about their health and lifestyle, medical history, and current medications. As part of the SOC physical exam, the patient will also have standard of care pre-treatment x-rays, neurological assessment, and a diagnosis of mild to severe OA in the knee joint assessment.

If the patient is found to be eligible for the study, research staff will approach the patient for informed consent. Patients with bi-lateral knee OA can participate but only one knee will receive the study treatment. The treating physician/principal investigator and the patient will discuss which knee should be treated with a study injection.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
pAF Injection
For the processed Amniotic Fluid (pAF) injection, the pAF injectate is prepared. The skin is prepped with Chloraprep. The skin is anesthetized using a freezing spray. 3 mLs of the pAF injectable solution is injected into the intra articular space of the knee. Ultrasound guidance will be used for all study injections.
Corticosteroid Injection
For the Corticosteroid injection, the skin is prepped with Chloraprep. The skin is anesthetized using a freezing spray. Then a mixture of 1 mL of Kenalog (corticosteroid) and 2 mL of ropivacaine is injected into intra-articular space of the knee. Ultrasound guidance will be used for all study injections.
Overall Study
STARTED
30
30
Overall Study
COMPLETED
30
30
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
0
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

pAF for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Corticosteroid Injection
n=30 Participants
For the Corticosteroid injection, the skin is prepped with Chloraprep. The skin is anesthetized using a freezing spray. Then a mixture of 1 mL of Kenalog (corticosteroid) and 2 mL of ropivacaine is injected into intra-articular space of the knee. Ultrasound guidance will be used for all study injections.
pAF Injection
n=30 Participants
For the processed Amniotic Fluid (pAF) injection, the pAF injectate is prepared. The skin is prepped with Chloraprep. The skin is anesthetized using a freezing spray. 3 mLs of the pAF injectable solution is injected into the intra articular space of the knee. Ultrasound guidance will be used for all study injections.
Total
n=60 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
57.9 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.32 • n=56 Participants
62.3 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.79 • n=62 Participants
60.1 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.72 • n=123 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
15 Participants
n=56 Participants
14 Participants
n=62 Participants
29 Participants
n=123 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
15 Participants
n=56 Participants
16 Participants
n=62 Participants
31 Participants
n=123 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race/Ethnicity · Hispanic or Latino
3 Participants
n=56 Participants
4 Participants
n=62 Participants
7 Participants
n=123 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race/Ethnicity · Not Hispanic or Latino - Asian
1 Participants
n=56 Participants
1 Participants
n=62 Participants
2 Participants
n=123 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race/Ethnicity · Not Hispanic or Latino - White
26 Participants
n=56 Participants
25 Participants
n=62 Participants
51 Participants
n=123 Participants
Body Mass Index
29 kg/m²
n=56 Participants
27 kg/m²
n=62 Participants
28 kg/m²
n=123 Participants
Kellgren-Lawrence Score
Grade 2
15 Participants
n=56 Participants
11 Participants
n=62 Participants
26 Participants
n=123 Participants
Kellgren-Lawrence Score
Grade 3
15 Participants
n=56 Participants
19 Participants
n=62 Participants
34 Participants
n=123 Participants
Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)
Sport and Recreation Function subscale
50 Score on a scale
n=56 Participants
50 Score on a scale
n=62 Participants
50 Score on a scale
n=123 Participants
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain
6 Score on a scale
n=56 Participants
6 Score on a scale
n=62 Participants
6 Score on a scale
n=123 Participants
Single Assessment Numerical Evaluation (SANE)
50 Percentage score
n=56 Participants
50 Percentage score
n=62 Participants
50 Percentage score
n=123 Participants
Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function CAT
44 Scores on a scale
n=56 Participants
44 Scores on a scale
n=62 Participants
44 Scores on a scale
n=123 Participants
Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)
Symptoms subscale
50 Score on a scale
n=56 Participants
50 Score on a scale
n=62 Participants
50 Score on a scale
n=123 Participants
Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)
Pain subscale
56 Score on a scale
n=56 Participants
56 Score on a scale
n=62 Participants
56 Score on a scale
n=123 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 6 months

Participants in both the SOC and pAF treatment arms may require and/or request rescue medication (i.e. SOC injection) at any time and will be given per PI discretion as part of standard of care. The clinicians will not know which study arm the study participant is in but will treat the participant with the SOC injection. This information will be documented and collected in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR), as well as the study's electronic data capture system. Participants will not be given any additional pAF injections throughout the study period. The participant will continue to be treated with SOC injections as needed. The outcome will be an indicator of whether or not a subject received a rescue medication within 6 months.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Amniotic Fluid Injection
n=30 Participants
Amniotic Fluid Injection, 3ml, one time dose.
Standard of Care Steroid Injection
n=30 Participants
Corticosteroids, 3ml, one time dose.
Repeat Allogeneic Intra-articular Injection Within 6 Months.
6 Participants
7 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 6 months

Population: Three participants did not respond to the 6-month follow-up email within the designated follow-up period and were therefore excluded from the 6-month analysis.

Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) \[assessment of joint symptoms, pain, and function on a scale from 0 to 100\]. With higher scores representing better symptoms, pain and function.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Amniotic Fluid Injection
n=28 Participants
Amniotic Fluid Injection, 3ml, one time dose.
Standard of Care Steroid Injection
n=29 Participants
Corticosteroids, 3ml, one time dose.
Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)
Symptoms subscale
75 Scores on a scale
Interval 50.0 to 75.0
50 Scores on a scale
Interval 50.0 to 75.0
Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)
Pain subscale
75 Scores on a scale
Interval 56.0 to 88.0
69 Scores on a scale
Interval 50.0 to 75.0
Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)
Sport and Recreation Function subscale
75 Scores on a scale
Interval 62.0 to 83.0
58 Scores on a scale
Interval 50.0 to 67.0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 6 months

Population: Three participants did not respond to the 6-month follow-up email within the designated follow-up period and were therefore excluded from the 6-month analysis.

Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale for pain (VAS), measured on a scale of 0 to 10. With 0 being no pain at all and 10 being the most pain possible.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Amniotic Fluid Injection
n=28 Participants
Amniotic Fluid Injection, 3ml, one time dose.
Standard of Care Steroid Injection
n=29 Participants
Corticosteroids, 3ml, one time dose.
Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS Pain)
3 Scores on a scale
Interval 2.0 to 6.0
5 Scores on a scale
Interval 3.0 to 7.0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 6 months

Population: Three participants did not respond to the 6-month follow-up email within the designated follow-up period and were therefore excluded from the 6-month analysis.

Self-reported functional outcomes were evaluated throughout the study period using the Single Assessment Numerical Evaluation (SANE) \[scored as a percentage of normal for the affected joint on a scale from 0-100%\]. With higher values representing higher levels of function.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Amniotic Fluid Injection
n=28 Participants
Amniotic Fluid Injection, 3ml, one time dose.
Standard of Care Steroid Injection
n=29 Participants
Corticosteroids, 3ml, one time dose.
Single Assessment Numerical Evaluation (SANE)
61 Percentage score
Interval 37.0 to 78.0
65 Percentage score
Interval 33.0 to 80.0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 6 months

Population: Three participants did not respond to the 6-month follow-up email within the designated follow-up period and were therefore excluded from the 6-month analysis.

Self-reported functional outcomes were evaluated using the PROMIS Physical Function Computer Adaptive Test \[self-report of capabilities related to activities of daily living scored from 0 to 100\]. With higher values representing higher levels of function.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Amniotic Fluid Injection
n=28 Participants
Amniotic Fluid Injection, 3ml, one time dose.
Standard of Care Steroid Injection
n=29 Participants
Corticosteroids, 3ml, one time dose.
Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function Computer Adaptive Test (PF-CAT)
48 Scores on a scale
Interval 44.0 to 52.0
44 Scores on a scale
Interval 39.0 to 47.0

OTHER_PRE_SPECIFIED outcome

Timeframe: 1 day, 2 days, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months

One adverse event potentially related to the study injection (edema in lower extremity and foot, which resolved) was reported in the Amniotic Fluid treatment group, while no adverse events related to the injection were reported in the corticosteroid treatment group.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Amniotic Fluid Injection
n=30 Participants
Amniotic Fluid Injection, 3ml, one time dose.
Standard of Care Steroid Injection
n=30 Participants
Corticosteroids, 3ml, one time dose.
Number of Treatment Emergent Adverse Events (AEs) Directly Related to the Injection.
1 events
0 events

Adverse Events

Amniotic Fluid Injection

Serious events: 1 serious events
Other events: 1 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Standard of Care Steroid Injection

Serious events: 1 serious events
Other events: 4 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Serious adverse events
Measure
Amniotic Fluid Injection
n=30 participants at risk
Amniotic Fluid Injection, 3ml, one time dose.
Standard of Care Steroid Injection
n=30 participants at risk
Corticosteroids, 3ml, one time dose.
Gastrointestinal disorders
Gastrointestinal bleed
0.00%
0/30 • From enrollment, to 12 months
Adverse events were monitored throughout the study and recorded in an adverse event log. Participants were assessed at scheduled study visits and through follow-up communications. All serious adverse events observed during the study are reported, regardless of their relationship to study participation. All non-serious adverse events that exceeded a 5% frequency threshold within any study arm are reported.
3.3%
1/30 • From enrollment, to 12 months
Adverse events were monitored throughout the study and recorded in an adverse event log. Participants were assessed at scheduled study visits and through follow-up communications. All serious adverse events observed during the study are reported, regardless of their relationship to study participation. All non-serious adverse events that exceeded a 5% frequency threshold within any study arm are reported.
Cardiac disorders
Myocardial Infarction
3.3%
1/30 • From enrollment, to 12 months
Adverse events were monitored throughout the study and recorded in an adverse event log. Participants were assessed at scheduled study visits and through follow-up communications. All serious adverse events observed during the study are reported, regardless of their relationship to study participation. All non-serious adverse events that exceeded a 5% frequency threshold within any study arm are reported.
0.00%
0/30 • From enrollment, to 12 months
Adverse events were monitored throughout the study and recorded in an adverse event log. Participants were assessed at scheduled study visits and through follow-up communications. All serious adverse events observed during the study are reported, regardless of their relationship to study participation. All non-serious adverse events that exceeded a 5% frequency threshold within any study arm are reported.

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Amniotic Fluid Injection
n=30 participants at risk
Amniotic Fluid Injection, 3ml, one time dose.
Standard of Care Steroid Injection
n=30 participants at risk
Corticosteroids, 3ml, one time dose.
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Total Knee Arthroplasty
3.3%
1/30 • From enrollment, to 12 months
Adverse events were monitored throughout the study and recorded in an adverse event log. Participants were assessed at scheduled study visits and through follow-up communications. All serious adverse events observed during the study are reported, regardless of their relationship to study participation. All non-serious adverse events that exceeded a 5% frequency threshold within any study arm are reported.
13.3%
4/30 • From enrollment, to 12 months
Adverse events were monitored throughout the study and recorded in an adverse event log. Participants were assessed at scheduled study visits and through follow-up communications. All serious adverse events observed during the study are reported, regardless of their relationship to study participation. All non-serious adverse events that exceeded a 5% frequency threshold within any study arm are reported.

Additional Information

Jamie Egbert, MPH

University of Utah Health: Department of Orthopaedics

Phone: 801-587-7109

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place