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're reviewing PRP for severe OA ; PRP for hair loss; and MFAT vs. PRP for Knee OA.
Let's dive in!
Serial Platelet-Rich Plasma Intra-articular Injections in Kellgren and Lawrence Grade IV Knee Joint Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Blinded Placebo-Controlled Interventional Study
Indian Journal of Orthopaedics // LOE: l
For many patients, undergoing surgery to resolve severe knee pain is not an option. Whether that be a personal choice or one that is forced on them by contraindications or long waitlists for arthroplasty.
For these patients, the options are not as slim as they once were. PRP has shown promise, however, it's efficacy in relieving pain and improving function for these patients is still contested.
In this study, 90 patients (84 available at final follow-up) of Grade IV KOA were given 3 PRP or Normal Saline injections at 1-month interval. The PRP product was not characterized, however, a double-spin approach was used with significant reduction in starting volume down to PRP volume. This suggests a high-density PRP.
Only PRP showed minimal clinically important difference and statistically significant difference in outcome scores (WOMAC and VAS). This study only followed patients out to 6-months, so it's unclear if an extended benefit would have been realized.
Notably, it appears that younger female patients respond more favourably to the PRP intervention than men.
ACCESS HERE: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43465-022-00730-4
Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Microfragmented Adipose Tissue for Knee Osteoarthritis
Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine // LOE: l
Microfragmented adipose tissue, or MFAT, is a next-generation biologic that provides a high dose of mesenchymal stem cells to support healing. We're involved in the first ever clinical trial for the use of MFAT in osteoarthritis; click here to learn more about the early results from this trial.
In this study, a total of 58 patients with symptomatic knee OA (Kellgren-Lawrence grades 1-4) were randomized to receive a single injection of either leukocyte-rich PRP or MFAT under ultrasound guidance. The PRP used was ~15x above baseline, which is quite high and there is limited evidence to support a dose of this magnitude being superior than say, something at 7x above baseline. The MFAT was processed using the Lipogems systems.
The authors concluded that single injections of both PRP and MFAT resulted in a clinically meaningful improvement for patients with knee OA at 6 months, with no difference between treatment groups.
ACCESS HERE: https://doi.org/10.1177/23259671221120678
Patient Satisfaction and Clinical Effects of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Pattern Hair Loss in Male and Female Patients
Cureus // LOE: lll
As patient demand for PRP in hair loss treatment increases, so will the clinical evidence.
In this study, 56 patients were treated over the course of 12-months with injection protocols ranging from 3 to 8 injections. Authors evaluated both the patients and clinicians overall satisfaction with the procedure in terms of improvement in hair density, thickness, quality, etc.
Overall, it appears that patients had a positive perception of their treatment. However, the clinical assessment often suggested a less than 50% improvement in any one metric. It's important to highlight that authors used the Arthrex ACP system which routinely concentrates product to ~2x. This may be the reason for upwards of 8 treatments when more highly concentrated systems are able to achieve comparable results in as few as 3 treatments.
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
This blog post provides general information to help the reader better understand regenerative medicine, musculoskeletal health, and any related subjects. The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and may not reflect the views and opinions of MDBiologix. All content provided in this blog, website, or any linked materials, including text, graphics, images, patient profiles, outcomes, and information, are not intended and should not be considered or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please always consult with a professional and certified healthcare provider to discuss if any treatment is right for you.