← Back to the care journey

EHL Thailand · Treatment example

Care journey example: knee osteoarthritis

The real sequence from first question to follow-up for people interested in stem cell studies in knee osteoarthritis.

ADSTEM Inj. · Last updated 3 Sept 2026

Direct answer

The journey starts with your question and medical records, moves to a joint review of the research, then a doctor screens eligibility. Most studies report short- to mid-term pain and function outcomes but do not confirm new cartilage growth, so this is not standard care.

Step by step

  1. 01. Send your question and basic information (Day 1)

    Complete the information-consultation form with your symptoms, how long you have had them, current medicines and previous treatments. The EHL Thailand information team replies in your dashboard. This step is educational information, not a diagnosis.

    Who is involved: You + EHL Thailand information team

  2. 02. Collect your medical documents (Week 1–2)

    Prepare discharge/treatment summaries, blood results, X-ray or MRI images and your medicine list. The more complete the records, the more accurate the eligibility review. Documents are used only with your consent (PDPA).

    Who is involved: You + your current treating doctor

  3. 03. Review the research evidence together (Week 2)

    The team shows what the existing research actually reports — for example MSC reviews in knee osteoarthritis describing pain and function improvement in some studies — together with limits on sample size and follow-up length.

    Who is involved: Information team + content review panel

  4. 04. Clinical eligibility screening (Week 3–4)

    The doctor reviews severity on X-ray/MRI, body weight, inflammation, and treatments that should come first such as physiotherapy or weight control. People with end-stage disease may benefit more from joint replacement.

    Who is involved: The doctor or clinic responsible for care in Korea

  5. 05. Informed consent before deciding (Before travelling)

    Before deciding you should receive documents stating that the treatment is investigational and not registered in Thailand, the risks, the alternatives, the full costs, and what is still unknown. No outcome guarantee should ever be given.

    Who is involved: You + the treating doctor

  6. 06. Treatment and follow-up (From treatment day to 12 months)

    Pain and function scores are followed at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. A doctor in Thailand should continue follow-up and record any adverse events.

    Who is involved: Treating doctor + your doctor in Thailand

Documents to prepare

  • Recent knee X-ray or MRI (within 12 months)
  • History of intra-articular injections such as steroid or hyaluronic acid
  • List of painkillers and medicines for other conditions
  • A log of your pain level and daily walking distance

Questions to ask your doctor

  • Which study stage is this treatment at, and what long-term results exist?
  • Which standard options should be tried first?
  • What are the common and the serious side effects?
  • What is the total cost including follow-up, and what does it cover?

Limits you must know

  • Stem cell treatment for these conditions remains investigational; it is not standard care.
  • EHL Thailand is an information and consultation channel, not a clinic, and does not diagnose or prescribe.
  • EHL BIO pipeline cell products have no published Thai registration status.
  • The timings shown are a general example and may change with documents, extra tests and clinical judgement.

Experts involved

  • EHL BIO Stem Cell Research Institute — Stem cell therapeutics research and development team

    ADSTEM (atopic dermatitis), KDSTEM (chronic kidney disease), RASTEM (rheumatoid arthritis), PDSTEM (Parkinson's disease) and adipose-derived exosome programmes

    • The hospital's affiliated research centre states ADSTEM Phase 1–2 trials were conducted and a KDSTEM Phase 1 trial started in Korea.
    • The hospital's affiliated research centre states it holds know-how and patents in stem cell isolation and culture.
    • Individual researcher names are not published publicly, so this is shown at team level.

    Source: EHL BIO — Stem cell treatment — https://www.ehlbio.co.kr/eng/rd/institute/

  • EHL Thailand Research Desk — Reviews articles, research summaries and clinical trial status

    Careful reading of study results, including sample size, trial phase and limitations

    • Checks that every claim links to an openly viewable source.
    • Never uses cure or guarantee language, or claims approvals without documentation.

Reviewed by: EHL Thailand Research Desk — Clinical research reading and summarising

Research cited

  • Systematic reviews: MSC for knee osteoarthritis · review · 2024
    Multiple studies report short- to medium-term improvement in pain and function; evidence of cartilage regeneration remains limited and methods vary widely.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=mesenchymal+stem+cell+knee+osteoarthritis+systematic+review
  • EHL BIO GMP cell manufacturing centre · review · 2026
    Company public information describes the manufacturing centre, quality systems and cell handling processes. Certifications and current status should be verified at the source.
    https://www.ehlbio.co.kr/eng/rd/gmp/
  • MSC with scaffolds for focal cartilage defects · phase2 · 2024
    Improved symptom scores and partial lesion filling on imaging, but repair tissue is often fibrocartilage and long-term outcomes are unclear.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=mesenchymal+stem+cell+cartilage+repair+knee

Related disease page

Degenerative Osteoarthritis — Degeneration of joint cartilage causing pain, stiffness and reduced mobility.