Welcome to the Regenerative Research Roundup, where we look through recently published research and bring you the best of the best in a quick-to-read digest.
This month, we have studies on PRP activation in aesthetic medicine, HA+PRP in TMJ, PRP vs CS in Knee OA, and PRP for epicondylitis.
Let's dive in!
A comparative study on the influences of platelet-rich plasma vs its derived cytokines on skin rejuvenation
European Journal of Plastic Surgery // LOE: lll
In aesthetic medicine, activating PRP to preempt the release of growth factors seems to be a popular modality. However, whether that is more or less effective than injecting intact platelets remains to be determined in clinical literature.
In this retrospective analysis of 1340 patients who received facial treatment, authors administered 6 ml of either intact PRP, or PRP-lysate that was activated via freezing. This method of activation has been well established as superior to the addition of other activation agents such as Calcium Chloride.
Doctor evaluation of efficacy of both therapies improved at both time points (p<0.0001 for all four values). However, at 4 weeks, doctors estimated a more significant improvement in the PRP therapy group than in the PRP-C group; 8 weeks later, no significant differences were observed.
Thus, it is reasonable based on this clinical study to claim that there does not seem to be any benefit to activation of PRP prior to treatment.
ACCESS HERE: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-023-02063-3
Hyaluronic Acid and Platelet-Rich Plasma Mixture Versus Hyaluronic Acid and Corticosteroid in the Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Internal Derangement: A Comparative Randomized Study
Journal of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery // LOE: l
This study aimed to compare the effects of different intra-articular injections using a mixture of hyaluronic acid (HA) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) versus hyaluronic acid and corticosteroid in the management of TMJ internal derangement with reduction.
60 patients were injected with either HA+PRP (Group 1) or HA+CS (Group 2) with pain intensity measured acording to VAS, MIO, lateral movement, and joint sound at 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months post-op. The PRP was not characterized however based on the protocol described, was likely a single-spin product producing concentrations <2x baseline.
Regarding pain, the group injected with HA+PRP achieved the best results after 6 months, however unsurprisingly, patients treated with HA+CS obtained the best results at the end of the 1st week.
ACCESS HERE: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-023-00556-w
Intra-articular platelet-rich plasma injections versus intra-articular corticosteroid injections for the symptomatic management of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Rheumatology // LOE: lll
This is another review paper that summarizes the effectiveness of PRP injections over steroid injections for treating knee osteoarthritis. The authors made the definitive statement at the end of this review that IA corticosteroid injections should no longer be routinely used for symptomatic management of knee OA.
In over 648 patients, PRP was significantly better in reducing OA symptoms at 3-, 6-, and 9-months post intervention with the greatest effect observed at 6 and 9 months. Additionally, PRP allowed greater return to sporting activities than CS injections.
Authors also found that triple injections separated by a week were superior to a single injection. However, this is likely due to under-dosing of the PRP product at each injection as studies have indicated a single injection of 10 billion platelets is sufficient to alleviate OA symptoms for up to 1 year (Bansal, 2022).
ACCESS HERE: https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kead104.115
Comparison of Clinical Outcomes of Platelet-Rich Plasma for Epicondylitis, Elbow: Simultaneous Lateral and Medial Versus Lateral Versus Medial
Orthopaedic Surgery // LOE: ll
Lateral and medial epicondylitis are relatively common diseases, but they do not improve quickly and are known to reduce patients’ quality of life. Much research has been done on Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) as a treatment for lateral epicondylitis, but research on medial epicondylitis is lacking.
In this retrospective study, 209 patients treated with PRP on epicondylitis either lateral, medial, or simultaneous. Authors did not characterize their PRP, however, based on a description of the protocol we can assume it is a single-spin product with <2x PRP.
VAS for pain and MEPS showed significant improvement in all three groups compared to before treatment and it did not appear that simultaneous treatment was more effective than either lateral or medial.
ACCESS HERE: https://doi.org/10.1111/os.13732
If you have any questions or comments regarding the above research, or are wondering how you can apply it to your regenerative practice, please leave a comment below or shoot me an email at cdowns@mdbiologix.com
Cheers!
Connor
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