Two or four injections of platelet-rich plasma into the osteoarthritis knee did not alter synovial biomarkers, but also improved clinical outcomes.
According to the test of relevant industry experts, they compared two and four intra-articular injections of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with respect to changes in synovial cytokines and clinical outcomes. 125 patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) received PRP injections every 6 weeks. Before each PRP injection, synovial fluid aspirations were collected for study. Patients were divided into two or four intra-articular PRP injections (groups A and B, respectively). Changes in synovial biomarkers were compared to baseline levels in both groups, and clinical outcomes were assessed up to one year.
Ninety-four patients who completed synovial fluid collection were included in the final evaluation, 51 in group A and 43 in group B. There were no differences in mean age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and radiographic OA grade. The mean platelet count and white blood cell count in PRP were 430,000/µL and 200/µL, respectively.Synovial inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IA-17A, and TNF-α), anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, and IL-1RA) were unchanged, and growth Factors (TGF-B1, VEGF, PDGF-AA and PDGF-BB) were at baseline and between 6 weeks in Group A and 18 weeks in Group B.
Clinical outcomes in both groups improved significantly from 6 weeks, including the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Patient Reported Outcome Measures [PROMs; Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) Index and Short Form-12 (SF-12)], performance-based measures [PBMs; time to get up (TUG), 5 sit-stand tests (5 × SST), and 3-minute walk tests (3-minute WT)].In conclusion, 2 or 4 intra-articular injections of PRP every 6 weeks in knee OA showed no changes in synovial cytokines and growth factors, but also improved clinical outcomes from 6 weeks to 1 year.
Post time: Mar-03-2022