Effects of intra-articular injection of an acellular equine liquid amniotic allograft in healthy equine joints.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate effects of acellular equine liquid amnion allograft (ELAA) injected into healthy equine joints. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized, blinded, controlled experiment. ANIMALS Eight healthy adult horses. METHODS: One intercarpal joint (ICJ) of each horse was randomly assigned to be injected with 1.5 ml of ELAA (treatment) while the contralateral ICJ was injected with 1.5 ml of 0.9% NaCl (control). Subjective lameness evaluation, force plate analysis, and synovial fluid analysis, including interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) analysis, were performed before (day 0) and at days 1, 3, 5, and 10. Synovial fluid analysis was also performed on days 20 and 30. RESULTS: No difference in subjective lameness (P = .75) and no decrease in peak vertical force or vertical impulse were seen in any limb on any day. Total nucleated cell count (TNCC) was increased in treatment joints on days 1 (P = .0007; T 6039 cells/µl, C 240 cells/µl) and 3 (P < .0001; T 1119 cells/µl, C 240 cells/µl). Log-10 transformed values for IL-1ra were higher in treated joints on days 1 (P = .0005; T 3553.7 pg/ml, C 1890.1 pg/ml) and 3 (P = .01; T 2283.2 pg/ml, C 1250.7 pg/ml). CONCLUSION: Injection of ELAA into the ICJ caused an increase in synovial fluid TNCC in comparison with saline control but no lameness was observed. There was increased IL-1ra on days 1 and 3 after ELAA injection. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Intra-articular injection of ELAA into healthy equine joints results in no significant safety concerns. The observed increase in IL-1ra may provide beneficial effects in inflamed joints.