The Systemic Effects of Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection

Abstract

Background:Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous blood product used to treat acute and chronic tendon, ligament, and muscle injuries in over 86,000 athletes in the United States annually. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned intramuscular PRP injections in competitive athletes in 2010 because of concerns that it may increase performance-enhancing growth factors. The ban on PRP was removed in 2011 because of limited evidence for a systemic ergogenic effect of PRP, but the growth factors within PRP remain prohibited.Purpose:To quantify the effect of PRP injection on systemic growth factors with performance-enhancing effects and to identify molecular markers to detect treated athletes.Study Design:Descriptive laboratory study.Methods:Six ergogenic growth factors monitored by WADA—human growth hormone (hGH), insulin-like growth factor–1 (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor binding protein–3 (IGFBP-3), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF or FGF-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and pla...