Platelet-rich Plasma In Knee Osteoarthritis Research Articles

Protocol for a multicentre randomised triple-blind controlled trial assessing the clinical efficacy of intra-articular platelet-rich plasma injections versus placebo in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (PIKOA)

IntroductionDespite their exponential use, intra-articular (IA) injections of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are not part of the recommended treatments for knee osteoarthritis (OA) by most international scientific societies. The most recent...

The varying clinical effectiveness of single, three and five intraarticular injections of platelet-rich plasma in knee osteoarthritis

ObjectiveTo investigate the variations in clinical effectiveness among patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis who underwent intra-articular administration of platelet-rich plasma using single, triple, or quintuple injections.MethodsOne hundred twenty patients with grade I-III knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to three groups: PRP1 group, who received a single injection of platelet-rich plasma; PRP3 group, who received three PRP injections one week apart; PRP5 group, who received five PRP injections one week apart. The patients’ conditions were evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index-VA3.1 version (WOMAC-VA3.1) at baseline and 6, 12, 24, and 52 weeks 52 weeks follow up.ResultsOut of the total participants, 106 patients (30 males and 76 females) completed the study. The primary outcome measure, WOMAC pain score, registered significant improvements across all groups when compared to pre-treatment levels. However, the application of 3 and 5 injections of platelet-rich plasma was substantially more effective than that of a single injection in reducing knee pain and stiffness, as well as enhancing physical function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. No statistically discernable difference was observed between PRP3 and PRP5 at all follow-up intervals, and there was no discernable difference between 3 and 5 PRP injections either. Mild side effects occurred in all three groups.ConclusionsThe administration of three or five injections of platelet-rich plasma is safe, substantially more effective than single injections, and leads to remarkable clinical improvement by significantly reducing knee pain, improving joint stiffness, and enhancing physical function in patients with grade I-III knee osteoarthritis. Furthermore, no significant difference was observed in the efficacy of three or five injections. Therefore, we recommend using three injections of PRP in the treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis of grade I-III.

Mesenchymal stem cells and platelet rich plasma therapy for knee osteoarthritis: an umbrella review of systematic reviews with meta-analysis.

The effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy on knee osteoarthritis (KOA) has been contradictory in previous meta-analyses. This umbrella review on published meta-analyses aimed to investigate the effect of MSCs and PRP on KOA. We systematically searched Scopus, PubMed, and Cochrane databases to include related meta-analyses. The outcome included studies reporting visual analog scale scores, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scores, International Knee Documentation Committee scores, and the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score. A total of 28 meta-analyses with 32 763 participants. MSCs and PRP therapies were significantly associated with an improvement in KOA scores. This umbrella meta-analysis supports the beneficial health effects of MSCs and PRP in KOA.

Comparison of intra-articular platelet-rich plasma injection versus placebo for clinical outcomes in patients with knee osteoarthritis; a double-blind, randomized trial

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressively debilitating condition that leads to musculoskeletal pain, particularly in the knee joint. Most clinical guidelines recommend platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for knee OA. However, the use of PRP in knee OA is increasing. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of intra-articular administration of PRP on the symptoms, lower limb function, and daily living activities in patients with knee OA. Patients and Methods: A double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted and 34 patients with grade 2 or 3 knee OA were enrolled. The knees of each participant were randomly allocated to receive either 3cc PRP injection (PRP knees) or needling only (control knees). Patients were evaluated by a general practitioner before, three, and six months after the intervention using the EuroQol-visual analog scales (EQ-VAS), the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), and the Tegner Activity Score (TAS). Results: The mean (±SD) age of patients with knee OA was 56.6 ± 10.2 years. Seventy-point-six percent of patients were female. 67.6% and 32.4% of patients were in stages 2 and 3 of the disease, respectively. IKDC, WOMAC, TAS, and EQ-VAS scores in knees under PRP injection and control of knees, three and six months after injection showed significant improvement. Three and six months after the intervention, IKDC, WOMAC, TAS, and EQ-VAS scores in the PRP and control knees were not significant (P > 0.05). Inter-group comparison indicated that the IKDC score significantly increased six months in comparison to three months (P = 0.048) in PRP knees, but not significant in the control knees (P = 0.133). TAS score in PRP and control knees significantly increased six months compared to three months after injection. WOMAC and EQ-VAS score in PRP and control knees was not significant at six months in comparison to three months after the intervention. Conclusion: Our findings could suggest safety and feasibility data for the intra-articular administration of PRP in patients with knee OA that may help to appraise a larger clinical trial. Findings show that PRP injection improves IKDC, WOMAC, TAS, and EQ-VAS scores, however, there was no significant difference with needling only (control knees). Trial Registration: The trial protocol was approved by the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trial (identifier: IRCT2015010112823N2; https://en.irct.ir/trial/12827, Ethics committee reference number: 93/551664) and Research Registry (Research Registry Unique Identifying Number: researchregistry9843).

Allogeneic platelet-rich plasma for knee osteoarthritis in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia: A randomized clinical trial

Allogeneic platelet-rich plasma for knee osteoarthritis in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia: A randomized clinical trial

Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis in a Military Cohort Using Platelet-Rich Plasma

Osteoarthritis is a devastating condition affecting an estimated 240 million people world-wide and is associated with significant morbidity and medical costs. Platelet-rich plasma has demonstrated success for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis with minimal adverse events. While US military service members experience osteoarthritis at a younger age and an increased frequency compared to nonmilitary populations, there is a paucity of research studies evaluating platelet-rich plasma in this high-risk population. This study is the first to evaluate the treatment response of US active-duty military and veterans receiving platelet-rich plasma injections for knee osteoarthritis. Using retrospective Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) data collected to evaluate the treatment response of platelet-rich plasma for knee osteoarthritis, we analyzed the data by age, sex, military rank, and number of injections for statistical significance. Despite a significant dropout rate during the study, we found 2 injections were superior to 1, 3, or 4 injections in reaching statistical significance for improvement in patient pain and function. Third and fourth injections saw a decrease in KOOS across all subcategories. Our data differed from non-military PRP studies which supports 3 injections provides the greatest improvement in pain and function. As a retrospective observational cohort study, we were unable to control for variables of treatment frequency and duration making it difficult to generalize our results to that of current literature. However, we did see a potential for additional platelet-rich plasma injections being superior with regards to improvement in pain and function. While there remains a scarcity of data within the military receiving platelet-rich plasma for knee osteoarthritis, future larger, prospective, double-blinded, randomized control trial studies could support platelet-rich plasma as an effective treatment option in this high-risk population.

Microfragmented Adipose Tissue Is Equivalent to Platelet-Rich Plasma for Knee Osteoarthritis at 12 Months Posttreatment: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an effective treatment for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Microfragmented adipose tissue (MFAT) is another orthobiologic that holds promise, but data supporting its use are limited. Previous studies showed that MFAT created using the Lipogems device was equivalent to PRP created via noncommercial laboratory-based processes. To perform a comparison of commercially available MFAT and PRP systems for treatment of knee OA. Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 2. A total of 71 patients with symptomatic knee OA (Kellgren-Lawrence grades 1-4) were randomized to receive a single injection of either leukocyte-rich PRP (Angel; Arthrex) or MFAT (Lipogems) under ultrasound guidance. Patient-reported outcomes (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score [KOOS], visual analog scale for pain with activities of daily living [VAS pain], and Tegner activity level) were recorded at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after injection. The primary outcome was the KOOS-Pain subscale score at 12 months after injection. Overall, 49 patients completed their 12-month follow-up (PRP group, n = 23; MFAT group, n = 26). All demographic features were similar between groups, except that more men were randomized to the PRP group and more women to the MFAT group. At 12 months posttreatment, KOOS-Pain scores improved in both groups, with no significant group difference (PRP, 78 ± 17.9 vs MFAT, 77.8 ± 19.3; P = .69). Similarly, other KOOS subscales, VAS pain scores, and Tegner scores improved at 12 months, with no differences between treatment groups. Both PRP and MFAT injections for knee OA resulted in improved patient-reported outcomes at 12 months posttreatment, with no differences found between treatments. NCT04351087 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).

The efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave combined with platelet rich plasma in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis with meniscus injury: A retrospective analysis.

To determine the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave (ESW) combined with autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy on knee osteoarthritis (KOA) with meniscus injury in terms of pain relief, functional outcome and complications. This is a retrospective observational study. Clinical data of 144 patients with KOA accompanied by medial meniscus injury, who received treatment in Jilin Provincial People's Hospital from March 2021 to December 2022, were retrospectively evaluated. A total of 128 patients (81 males and 47 females) were finally included in the study after screening. Of them, 45 patients received PRP treatment (PRP-group), 43 patients received ESW treatment (ESW-group), and 40 patients received ESW combined with PRP treatment (Combined-group). The relief of knee joint pain and functional improvement among three groups of patients were compared. After treatment, visual analogue scale (VAS), Lequesne, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores of patients in the Combined-group were significantly lower than those in the other two groups (p<0.05). Combined ESW-PRP treatment was associated with significantly greater joint range of motion of patients compared to ESW and PRP alone (p<0.05). The total incidence of related complications in the Combined-group was lower compared to the other two groups (p<0.05). Compared with PRP or ESW treatment alone, ESW combined with PRP for KOA with meniscus injury can better alleviate pain, achieve faster functional recovery, and significantly reduce complications.

Research trends of platelet-rich plasma therapy on knee osteoarthritis from 2011 to 2021: A review.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been widely used to alleviate osteoarthritis of the knee, and research results are abundant. However, there are no bibliometric reports in publications in this field. Therefore, the current status of PRP for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee from 2011 to 2021 was analyzed using Citespace 6.1.R2 software. Publications regarding PRP treating Knee Osteoarthritis between 2011 and 2021 were extracted from the Web of Science database. CiteSpace was used to analyze the number of publications, countries, institutions, journals, authors, cited references, and keywords by using standard bibliometric indicators. A total of 988 publications were searched from 2011 to 2021. In the last decade, the number of publications has increased in the field. Brian J. Cole was the author with the most output, with 31 relevant articles, and Giuseppe Filardo ranked first in cited authors. Am J Sport Med was the most cited journal. In this field, the most prolific country is the United States and the most prolific institution is Rush University. An article published by Sandeep Patel ranked first in cited references with 118 citations. "Randomized controlled trial" was the most bursting keyword and other more popular keywords about PRP for knee osteoarthritis: "hyaluronic acid," "double-blind," and "mesenchymal stem cell." This bibliometric study provides a decade of current clinical research on PRP for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee, which can help researchers understand the hot spots in the field and provide a new direction for their research.

The Influence of Industry Affiliation on Randomized Controlled Trials of Platelet-Rich Plasma for Knee Osteoarthritis

Background: Industry funding and corporate sponsorship have played a significant role in the advancement of orthopaedic research and technology. However, this relationship raises concerns for how industry association may bias research findings and influence clinical practice. Purpose: To determine whether industry affiliation plays a role in the outcomes of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Study Design: Meta-analysis; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A search of the PubMed, Cochrane, and MEDLINE databases for RCTs published between 2011 and the present comparing PRP versus hyaluronic acid, corticosteroid, or placebo for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis was performed. To determine industry affiliation, the conflict of interest, funding, and disclosure sections of publications were assessed, and all authors were assessed through the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons disclosure database and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services open payments database. Studies were classified as industry affiliated (IA) or non–industry affiliated (NIA). The outcomes of each study were rated as favorable, analogous, or unfavorable according to predefined criteria. Results: A total of 37 studies (6 IA and 31 NIA) were available for analysis. Overall, 19 studies (51.4%) reported PRP as favorable compared with other treatment options, while 18 studies (48.6%) showed no significant differences between PRP and other treatment methods. There was no significant difference in qualitative conclusions between the IA and NIA groups, with the IA group having 3 favorable studies and 3 analogous studies and the NIA group having 16 favorable studies and 15 analogous studies (P = .8881). When comparing IA versus NIA studies using 6- and 12-month Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index and International Knee Documentation Committee scores, there were no significant differences in outcomes. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that qualitative conclusions and outcome scores were found to not be associated with industry affiliation. Although the results of this study suggest that there is no influence of industry involvement on RCTs examining PRP, it is still necessary to carefully evaluate pertinent commercial affiliations when reviewing recommendations from studies before adopting new treatment approaches, such as the use of PRP for knee osteoarthritis.

Efficacy of intra-articular injection of allogeneic platelet-rich plasma for knee osteoarthritis combined with hematologic blood dyscrasias with platelet dysfunction: protocol of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

BackgroundAutologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been shown to alleviate the symptoms of patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis (KOA), but for certain patients with hematologic diseases with platelet dysfunction and patients receiving anti-platelet medications, autologous PRP is not an optimum solution. Allogeneic PRP has been proven to be safe and effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis, rotator cuff disease, refractory wounds and other medical fields. However, a well-designed and long-term follow-up prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the effect of allogeneic PRP intra-articular injections for KOA combined with hematologic blood dyscrasias has not yet been performed.Methods/ designWe will conduct an allogeneic PRP injection for KOA combined with hematologic blood dyscrasias with platelet dysfunction study: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. One hundred participants with KOA combined with hematologic blood dyscrasias with platelet dysfunction will be randomly allocated to receive either one allogeneic PRP injection or one saline injection into the knee joint. The primary outcome will be a 12-month change in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score. Secondary outcomes will be the 36-Item Short-Form General Health Survey (SF-36) score, Lysholm score, overall knee pain score and MRI assessment at 1-, 3-, 6- and 12-month.DiscussionThe results of this study will help determine whether allogeneic PRP could be used as a non-surgical intervention to treat patients with knee OA combined with hematologic blood dyscrasias with platelet dysfunction.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trials Registry reference: ChiCTR2100048624. Prospectively registered 11th of July 2021.

SYMPTOMATIC AND STRUCTURAL EFFECTS OF INTRA-ARTICULAR PLATELET-RICH PLASMA IN PATIENTS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS: THE RESTORE RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL

Purpose: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a safe autologous blood product containing high levels of growth factors and cytokines with potential to alter biological processes implicated in osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis and symptoms. Most clinical guidelines do not recommend PRP for knee OA due to lack of high-quality evidence on efficacy but emphasize the need for rigorous studies. Despite this, the use of PRP in knee OA is increasing.

How Does Platelet-Rich Plasma Compare Clinically to Other Therapies in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background: There has been an increase in interest in the use of biological therapies in orthopaedic conditions such as knee osteoarthritis. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is one of these therapies, but it still lacks consistent results. Purpose: To evaluate the effects (benefits and harms) of PRP intra-articular injection compared with other nonsurgical methods for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and quasi–randomized controlled trials; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Three electronic databases were searched to identify relevant studies published before January 2021. The primary outcomes were pain, function, and failure of treatment. Risks of bias of all trials were assessed using a Cochrane risk of bias tool. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation System was used to assess the quality of evidence of included studies. Results: A total of 40 studies with 3035 participants were included. Analysis of this review focused on comparing PRP with hyaluronic acid, corticosteroid, and saline, as we believe they are the most relevant comparisons with the most studies available. At 6-month follow-up, PRP was as effective as and in some studies more effective than other therapies regarding pain, function, and stiffness. However, current evidence is of low or very low quality and is based on trials with high risk of bias and great heterogeneity among them. No significant difference among treatments was found concerning major adverse events and treatment failure. Conclusion: Although studies suggest that PRP may be more effective than or at least as effective as other modalities of nonsurgical treatment for knee osteoarthritis in terms of pain, function, and adverse events, serious limitations and methodological flaws are considerable in the current literature. Therefore, the authors are not able to make recommendations for clinical practice regarding PRP for knee osteoarthritis.

The Effectiveness of Single Injection of Platelet-Rich Plasma for Knee Osteoarthritis Combined with Meniscus Injury: A Randomized Trial

Objectives : To explore the effectiveness of single injection of platelet-rich plasma with rehabilitation therapy for knee osteoarthritis combined with meniscus injury. Methods : Forty patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to a rehabilitation group (REH group, 20 cases) receiving rehabilitation training, and a platelet-rich plasma group (PRP group, 20 cases) receiving an ultrasound-guided single injection of PRP in combination with rehabilitation training. Rehabilitation training in the two groups lasted for 2 weeks, and the patients were evaluated using the short-form McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ), Western Ontario McMaster Universities index (WOMAC score), and infrared thermography (knee-joint mean temperature) before treatment, at 1 week, 1 month and 6 months after treatment. Results : Two patients were lost to follow-up in both the PRP group and the REH group. Significant reductions in pain scores, WOMAC scores and knee temperature were observed at 1 week and 1 month after treatment in both groups (p &lt; 0.05). Significant lower SF-MPQ scores were observed in the PRP group than in the REH group at 6 months followup (p &lt; 0.01). Similarly, the mean knee temperature was significantly lower in the PRP group than in the REH group at 6 months follow-up (p &lt; 0.01). No severe complications occurred in either group. Conclusions: Compared to rehabilitation therapy alone, single injection of platelet-rich plasma in combination with rehabilitation therapy has beneficial effect on pain, knee function and mean knee temperature in patients with KOA combined with meniscus injury. Single injection of platelet-rich plasma combined with rehabilitation therapy has a good short-term effectiveness.

The use of platelet-rich plasma in studies with early knee osteoarthritis versus advanced stages of the disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 31 randomized clinical trials.

Reports have concluded that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an effective and safe biological approach to treating knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, the effectiveness of PRP in advanced stages of the disease is not entirely clear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the use of PRP would be as effective in studies with early-moderate knee OA patients compared to studies including patients with end-stage OA, based on the Kellgren-Lawrence classification. A comprehensive search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effect of PRP injections versus other intra-articular treatments on pain and functionality. A meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model and the generic inverse variance method. We included 31 clinical trials that reported data of 2705 subjects. Meta-analysis revealed an overall significant improvement of both pain [MD, - 1.05 (95% CI - 1.41 to - 0.68); I2 = 86%; P ≤ 0.00001] and function [SMD, - 1.00 (95% CI - 1.33, to - 0.66); I2 = 94%; P ≤ 0.00001], favoring PRP. Subanalysis for pain and functional improvement showed a significant pain relief in studies with 1-3 and 1-4 Kellgren-Lawrence OA stages and a significant functional improvement in studies with 1-2, 1-3 and 1-4 knee OA stages, favoring PRP. Our results indicate that including patients with advanced knee OA does not seem to affect the outcomes of clinical trials in which the effectiveness of the PRP in knee OA is assessed.

Effect of Intra-articular Platelet-Rich Plasma vs Placebo Injection on Pain and Medial Tibial Cartilage Volume in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

Most clinical guidelines do not recommend platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for knee osteoarthritis (OA) because of lack of high-quality evidence on efficacy for symptoms and joint structure, but the guidelines emphasize the need for rigorous studies. Despite this, use of PRP in knee OA is increasing. To evaluate the effects of intra-articular PRP injections on symptoms and joint structure in patients with symptomatic mild to moderate radiographic medial knee OA. This randomized, 2-group, placebo-controlled, participant-, injector-, and assessor-blinded clinical trial enrolled community-based participants (n = 288) aged 50 years or older with symptomatic medial knee OA (Kellgren and Lawrence grade 2 or 3) in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, from August 24, 2017, to July 5, 2019. The 12-month follow-up was completed on July 22, 2020. Interventions involved 3 intra-articular injections at weekly intervals of either leukocyte-poor PRP using a commercially available product (n = 144 participants) or saline placebo (n = 144 participants). The 2 primary outcomes were 12-month change in overall average knee pain scores (11-point scale; range, 0-10, with higher scores indicating worse pain; minimum clinically important difference of 1.8) and percentage change in medial tibial cartilage volume as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Thirty-one secondary outcomes (25 symptom related and 6 MRI assessed; minimum clinically important difference not known) evaluated pain, function, quality of life, global change, and joint structures at 2-month and/or 12-month follow-up. Among 288 patients who were randomized (mean age, 61.9 [SD, 6.5] years; 169 [59%] women), 269 (93%) completed the trial. In both groups, 140 participants (97%) received all 3 injections. After 12 months, treatment with PRP vs placebo injection resulted in a mean change in knee pain scores of -2.1 vs -1.8 points, respectively (difference, -0.4 [95% CI, -0.9 to 0.2] points; P = .17). The mean change in medial tibial cartilage volume was -1.4% vs -1.2%, respectively (difference, -0.2% [95% CI, -1.9% to 1.5%]; P = .81). Of 31 prespecified secondary outcomes, 29 showed no significant between-group differences. Among patients with symptomatic mild to moderate radiographic knee OA, intra-articular injection of PRP, compared with injection of saline placebo, did not result in a significant difference in symptoms or joint structure at 12 months. These findings do not support use of PRP for the management of knee OA. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry Identifier: ACTRN12617000853347.

Adverse Reactions and Clinical Outcomes for Leukocyte-Poor Versus Leukocyte-Rich Platelet-Rich Plasma in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background:Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has gained attention as a therapeutic option for knee osteoarthritis; however, its efficacy varies widely. Leukocytes in PRP raise the concern of aggravating proinflammatory activity. To date, PRP has rarely been investigated with regard to leukocyte concentration.Purpose:To provide clinical evidence of the intra-articular injection of PRPs containing different leukocyte concentrations.Study Design:Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.Methods:We systematically searched the MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Scopus databases. PRP was classified into leukocyte-poor (LP-PRP) and leukocyte-rich (LR-PRP). Clinical outcomes including Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), visual analog scale (VAS) for pain score, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective score, and adverse reactions were evaluated. The Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies criteria were used for quality assessment.Results:Included were 32 studies with an evidence level between 1 and 4. Both LP-PRP and LR-PRP showed improvements above the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in VAS pain score. No significant intergroup difference was seen at 3, 6, or 12 months of follow-up. Regarding function, both LP-PRP and LR-PRP showed improvements above the MCID in the WOMAC and IKDC scores, with no significant difference between the groups. Adverse reactions for pain were significantly higher in LR-PRP than in LP-PRP (odds ratio, 1.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.29-2.10; P = .01). After intra-articular PRP injection, LR-PRP showed a significantly higher rate of swelling than LP-PRP (odds ratio, 1.56; 95% confidence interval, 1.22-1.99; P = .02). The mean Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies score of the included studies was 18.6 (range, 10-24).Conclusion:Intra-articular PRP injection resulted in improvements above the MCID in terms of pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis up to 12 months. The risk of local adverse reactions appeared to be increased after LR-PRP compared with LP-PRP injection. The findings of this review can support the potential use of intra-articular PRP injection for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. In clinical application, clinicians need to consider selecting a specific type of PRP for knee osteoarthritis.

A Retrospective Analysis of Characteristic Features of Responders and Impaired Patients to a Single Injection of Pure Platelet-Rich Plasma in Knee Osteoarthritis.

(1) Background: The emergence of injectable “biologic” medication creates a new approach to treat osteoarthritis (OA). Among them, the use of intra-articular injection of PRP became widespread despite the absence of consensus regarding its optimal composition. The aim of this study was to retrospectively correlate an extensive biological characterization of injected PRP to the clinical responses of patients presenting knee OA. (2) Methods: This retrospective study included 75 patients with knee OA. Cartilage lesions were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging and the International Cartilage Regeneration Society (ICRS) classification. PRP extensive biological characterization was performed and patients’ subjective symptoms were recorded before injection and 3 and 6 months after injection using the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Responders were defined by an improvement of 10 points on KOOS. (3) Results: At 6 months, 63.0% of the patients were responders. Impairment was characterized by a significantly higher proportion of patients with three compartments altered at baseline MRI and receiving a significantly higher dose of platelets compared to responders. (4) Conclusions: Single injection of pure PRP resulted in significant clinical improvement in the management of knee OA. Both baseline MRI and PRP biological features may be predictive factors of the clinical response, highlighting that a better understanding of action mechanism of PRP is still required.

Clinical Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection and Its Association With Growth Factors in the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Clinical Trial As Compared With Hyaluronic Acid

Background: Although platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has potential as a regenerative treatment for knee osteoarthritis, its efficacy varies. Compositional differences among types of PRP could affect clinical outcomes, but the biological characterization of PRP is lacking. Purpose: To assess the efficacy of intra-articular PRP injection in knee osteoarthritis as compared with hyaluronic acid (HA) injection and to determine whether the clinical efficacy of PRP is associated with its biological characteristics. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. Methods: A total of 110 patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis received a single injection of leukocyte-rich PRP (1 commercial kit) or HA. Clinical data were assessed at baseline and at 6 weeks and 3 and 6 months after injection. The primary endpoint was an improvement in the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective score at 6 months, and the secondary endpoints were improvements in scores based on the Patient Global Assessment, the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, and the Samsung Medical Center patellofemoral score. Cell counts and concentrations of growth factors and cytokines in the injected PRP were assessed to determine their association with clinical outcomes. Results: PRP showed significantly improvement in IKDC subjective scores at 6 months (11.5 in the PRP group vs 6.3 in the HA group; P = .029). There were no significant differences between groups in other clinical outcomes. The Patient Global Assessment score at 6 months was better in the PRP group (P = .035). The proportion of patients who scored above the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for VAS at 6 months was significantly higher in the PRP group (P = .044). Within the PRP group, the concentrations of platelet-derived growth factors were high in patients with a score above the MCID for VAS at 6 months. The incidence of adverse events did not differ between the groups (P > .05). Conclusion: PRP had better clinical efficacy than HA. High concentrations of growth factors were observed in patients who scored above the MCID for clinical outcomes in the PRP group. These findings indicate that concentration of growth factors needs to be taken into consideration for future investigations of PRP in knee osteoarthritis. Registration: NCT02211521 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).

A comparative analysis of the efficacy of intra-articular injections of corticosteroid, hyaluronic acid and platelet-rich plasma for the treatment of osteoarthritis knee

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is the most common chronic degenerative joint disease characterized by pain, stiffness, swelling and progressive functional limitation in elderly. Non-surgical management modalities like physical therapy, lifestyle modification and oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are often ineffective or do not alleviate symptoms adequately. Intra-articular corticosteroid (CS) and hyaluronic acid (HA) injections have been used for long to alleviate the symptoms of knee OA. Recently platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has also been tried widely. Very few researches involving a comparison of the three have been conducted. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect, efficacy and safety of intra-articular corticosteroid, hyaluronic acid and platelet-rich plasma for knee osteoarthritis. Methods: 90 patients (132 knees) with primary knee osteoarthritis were randomized to receive one injection of intra-articular corticosteroid, hyaluronic acid or platelet-rich plasma and were followed for 3 months. The two groups were compared as regards pain and functional improvement using the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and the visual analog pain scale (VAS), by assessing the patients three times. Results: VAS scale showed that all three modalities were effective in pain reduction. Both WOMAC and KOOS score represented variably improved symptoms i.e. decrease in pain and stiffness along with improvement in daily activity after 3 months in all 3 groups. Conclusion: As the degree of pain relief achieved by the respective modalities was almost similar, the most important difference between the three intervention groups was the duration of their effectiveness. HA is suggested to be superior in the duration of pain relief when compared to CS and PRP. We can propose that HA can be administered less often as compared to CS and PRP for knee joint OA. Therefore, it will be more convenient to use HA.