New randomized clinical trial results presented at CIRSE 2026 demonstrate significant improvement following Genicular Artery Embolization for patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.
The evidence supporting Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE) for knee osteoarthritis continues to grow. Newly announced results from the highly anticipated GRAVITY Trial were presented at the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE) 2026 Annual Congress in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The randomized controlled trial met its primary endpoint, providing important new clinical evidence for GAE as a minimally invasive treatment option for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.
What Is the GRAVITY Trial?
GRAVITY—Genicular Artery Embolization Versus Observation for the Treatment of Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis—is a randomized controlled clinical trial sponsored by UCLA. The study compared clinical outcomes in patients undergoing GAE with those assigned to observation.
The trial’s primary endpoint was the percentage of patients achieving at least a 50% reduction in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score at six months. WOMAC is a validated clinical tool used to evaluate pain, stiffness, and physical function in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
GRAVITY Trial Results Presented at CIRSE 2026
According to results presented at CIRSE 2026:
50% of patients treated with GAE achieved at least a 50% reduction in WOMAC score at six months, compared with 10.7% of patients in the observation group.
The difference was statistically significant at p < 0.001, and the investigators reported that the trial was positive and met its primary endpoint.
These findings are particularly important because GRAVITY is a randomized controlled trial, adding a higher level of comparative evidence to the existing body of prospective studies evaluating GAE.
Previous prospective research has already demonstrated improvements in knee osteoarthritis symptoms following GAE, including sustained outcomes at two years in appropriately selected patients.
Why These GAE Results Matter
Knee osteoarthritis is a chronic condition that can significantly affect mobility and quality of life. Traditional treatment may include physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, injections, and, for some patients, knee replacement surgery.
GAE offers another approach.
During Genicular Artery Embolization, an interventional radiologist selectively targets abnormal blood vessels associated with inflammation in the osteoarthritic knee. Using a catheter-based technique, the radiologist delivers microscopic embolic material to reduce blood flow to these areas, with the goal of decreasing inflammation and improving symptoms.
The newly presented GRAVITY results add important randomized evidence to a growing body of GAE research. The Society of Interventional Radiology’s 2026 position statement also describes GAE as an emerging treatment for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis and identifies GRAVITY among the randomized controlled trials evaluating the procedure.
JVI and the Advancement of GAE
At Joint & Vascular Institute, GAE has been an important area of clinical care, research, and physician education from its early development.
Dr. Osman Ahmed is an early pioneer of Genicular Artery Embolization, helping advance the field through clinical research, physician education, and the treatment of patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Dr. Ahmed has also collaborated extensively with Dr. Siddharth Padia, including work on the Society of Interventional Radiology’s GAE position statement and research reporting standards published in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (JVIR).
Dr. Ahmed attended CIRSE 2026 in Copenhagen when the GRAVITY Trial results were presented, witnessing firsthand an important milestone for GAE and the growing evidence supporting its role in treating knee osteoarthritis.
JVI continues to contribute to the evolving evidence surrounding GAE through ongoing clinical research and data collection. For our physicians, the positive GRAVITY results represent another important milestone for a treatment they have spent years helping study, standardize, and advance.
What Comes Next for GAE?
The results announced at CIRSE 2026 have been presented publicly but have not yet been published as a full peer-reviewed manuscript. Until that publication becomes available, the findings should be interpreted based on the data presented at the congress.
Still, meeting the primary endpoint in a randomized controlled trial represents an important milestone for GAE research—and another step forward in understanding where Genicular Artery Embolization may fit within the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.
For patients living with chronic knee pain who have not found adequate relief with conservative treatments, GAE may provide a minimally invasive option without major surgery.
Interested in learning whether GAE may be right for you? Contact Joint & Vascular Institute to schedule a consultation with our team.
GRAVITY Trial results referenced above were presented at CIRSE 2026. Full peer-reviewed publication is pending.