Complete the 2 tables using the article attached. See the example for guidance .
Osteoarthritis
SUPPLEMENT
Intraarticular Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis Review and Recommendations
ABSTRACT
Pourcho AM, Smith J, Wisniewski SJ, Sellon JL: Intraarticular platelet-rich plasma
injection in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: review and recommendations. Am
J Phys Med Rehabil 2014;00:00Y00.
Intraarticular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection has emerged as a promising
treatment for knee osteoarthritis. Studies to date, including multiple randomized
controlled trials, have shown that PRP is a safe and effective treatment option for
knee osteoarthritis. Intraarticular PRP is similar in efficacy to hyaluronic acid, and
seems to be more effective than hyaluronic acid in younger, active patients with
low-grade osteoarthritis. Treatment benefits seem to wane after 6Y9 mos. There
are numerous PRP treatment variables that may be of importance, and the optimal
PRP protocol remains unclear. Future investigations should control and analyze
the effects of these variables in PRP treatment. High-quality randomized controlled
trials are needed to optimize PRP treatment methods and better define the role of
PRP in osteoarthritis management in the knee and, potentially, in other joints.
Key Words: Knee, Osteoarthritis, Platelet-Rich Plasma, Regenerative Medicine, Injections
BACKGROUND Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative arthritis or osteoarthrosis, in- volves mechanical and biologic abnormalities of the articular cartilage and subchondral bone.1 OA affects approximately 250 million people (nearly 27 million Americans), and the prevalence is expected to rise as life expectancy increases.2,3 OA causes moderate-to-severe disability in more than 43 million people globally, and nearly one in every two people may develop symptomatic knee OA by the age of 85 yrs.4,5 Once articular cartilage is damaged, healing potential is poor, leading to focal cartilage lesions and OA.6 Given the prevalence of OA and the morbidity associated with it, any treatment that may help alleviate the symptoms, improve function, and ideally reverse the damage and promote healing, is of interest to both patients and medical specialists. The ongoing search for effective nonoperative OA treatments has driven the interest in Bregenerative[ biologic therapies.7 In the last decade, intraarticular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection has emerged as a promising treatment option for OA.8
Authors: Adam M. Pourcho, DO Jay Smith, MD Stephen J. Wisniewski, MD Jacob L. Sellon, MD
Affiliations: From the Departments of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (AMP, JS, SJW, JLS) and Radiology and Anatomy (JS), Sports Medicine Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
Correspondence: All correspondence and requests for reprints should be addressed to: Jacob L. Sellon, MD, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine Center, Mayo Clinic, W14 Mayo Building, 200 1st St SW, Rochester, MN 55905.
Disclosures: Financial disclosure statements have been obtained, and no conflicts of interest have been reported by the authors or by any individuals in control of the content of this article.
0894-9115/14/0000-0000 American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Copyright * 2014 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
DOI: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000000115
www.ajpmr.com PRP Injection as a Treatment for Knee OA 1
Copyright © 2014 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
PRP is most simply defined as a volume of plasma that has a platelet (PLT) count above baseline (BL) blood levels.9 PRP is an autologous blood product that can be injected into damaged areas to deliver PLT-derived growth factors (GFs) and pro- mote healing.10 The autologous nature of PRP the- oretically reduces the risk of potential side effects and makes it an attractive treatment option.11,12
Numerous studies have demonstrated PRP efficacy in the treatment of chronic tendinopathy and ligamentous injuries.13Y19 The most compelling data to date have been in elbow lateral epicondylitis (i.e., Btennis elbow[), for which multiple random- ized controlled trials have demonstrated therapeu- tic benefit.20Y22 In the past several years, a growing body of evidence has accumulated examining PRP as a possible treatment of knee OA. This review outlines the many variables involved in the use of PRP, summarizes the currently available literature on its application in knee OA, and suggests avenues for further research.
VARIABLES IN PRP TREATMENT When using PRP as a treatment for OA, there
are many variables to consider (see Table 1).78 These include preparation method, needle gauge for blood harvest and injection, PLT concentration, PLT granule secretion variability, leukocyte (and subtype) concentration, PLT storage, anticoagulant use, PLT preactivation, local anesthesia use, image guidance use, injection volume, injection frequency, preinjection and postinjection protocol, severity of OA being treated, and other patient factors. An un- derstanding of these variables is essential in criti- cally analyzing the literature and deciding how to implement PRP treatment into clinical practice.
Preparation Method The first variable to consider when using PRP
is the method of preparation (Figs. 1AYC). Most methods use either a centrifuge or density gradient cell separator to separate whole blood into its cel- lular components.23,24 Typically, the initial Bspin[ separates the red blood cell and buffy coat/plasma (leukocyte and PLT) layers, whereas a second spin is used in some systems to further concentrate PLTs. Therefore, the number of centrifugations and cen- trifuge speed/timing has a major influence on the final PRP concentration of PLTs and leukocytes.25
Because of these variables, manual laboratory prep- aration can be technically demanding and difficult to precisely reproduce. Commercially available systems
theoretically provide more precision, but variation among systems complicates comparisons.23,26,27
Needle Gauge for Blood Harvest and Injection
Needle gauge is another factor that may po- tentially affect PRP. Smaller gauge needles used in blood draws can cause premature activation of PLTs.28 Because PLTs release 90% of their GFs within 10 mins of activation, needle gauge may affect the timing of GF release.29 To avoid un- intentional activation of PLTs, clinicians may con- sider using large bore needles (21-gauge or larger) and slow aspiration during blood harvest. It is unclear whether needle gauge is an important factor during PRP administration. Clearly, further research is needed to determine the effects of specific needle gauges on PLT activation in the context of PRP preparation and injection.
PLT Concentration PLT concentration may be arguably one of the
most important variables in PRP treatment. Mishra et al. 30 proposed a PRP classification system with subcategories of relatively high (95� BL) and low (G5� BL) PLT concentrations. However, PLT con- centration in the published literature on knee OA has been variable and inconsistently reported. Some authors suggest that PRP PLT concentration should be at least two times the whole blood PLT concen- tration; however, concentrations up to eight times of blood levels have been reported with good re- sults.23,31 There is in vitro evidence that PRP with higher PLT concentration (4.69�) releases more GFs than PRP with lower concentration (1.99�).32 Other laboratory studies have suggested a ceiling effect of
TABLE 1 Variables in PRP treatment
Preparation method Needle gauge for blood harvest and injection Platelet concentration Platelet granule secretion (e.g., GFs) Leukocyte (and subtype) concentration Platelet storage (vs. immediate injection) Anticoagulant use Platelet preactivation Local anesthetic use Palpation vs. image guidance Injection volume Injection frequency Preinjection and postinjection protocol (e.g., NSAID/ activity restriction)
Type and severity of disease being treated Patient-specific factors (e.g., age, sex, platelet disorders)
2 Pourcho et al. Am. J. Phys. Med. Rehabil. & Vol. 00, No. 00, Month 2014
Copyright © 2014 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
the anabolic effects of PLT concentration.33Y36 In practice, there is evidence that positive clinical out- comes in knee OA can be obtained with relatively low PLT concentrations (2Y3� BL).25,37Y40 Scientific ev- idence is currently limited with regard to optimal PRP PLT concentration for the treatment of knee OA and requires further investigation.
PLT Granule Secretion One of the most unpredictable variables in PRP
injection is PLT granule secretion. PLT granules release a variety of GFs, including PLT-derived GF, transforming GF beta, insulin-like GF-1, and epi- dermal GF. The concentrations of these GFs may vary between patients and within the same patient at different times.10 These molecules are believed to be important in maintaining joint homeostasis, tissue healing, and tissue regeneration.10 In addi- tion, PLT granules store substances such as aden- osine diphosphate, adenosine triphosphate, histamine, dopamine, serotonin, cathespin D, cathespin E, elas- tases, and hydrolases, which are believed to play a complex role in tissue regeneration.10,12,41 The sig- nificance of variability in PLT granule secretion on PRP treatment is unknown and would be difficult to account for in clinical trials.
Leukocyte (and Subtype) Concentration The presence or absence of leukocytes and their
subtypes may also play an important role in PRP treatment efficacy. Mishra et al’s30 PRP classification
defined leukocyte-rich (LR) as Bincreased over baseline[ and leukocyte-poor (LP) as Bminimal to no leukocytes.[ For most currently available PRP sys- tems, leukocyte concentration is directly related to PLT concentration.26 Although there are a few ex- ceptions, most systems produce either an LR-PRP with a relatively high PLT concentration (95�BL) or an LP-PRP with a relatively low PLT concentration (G5� BL). In vitro human and animal research has shown that LR-PRP yields higher GF concentrations than LP-PRP, but LR-PRP also contains more cata- bolic/inflammatory cytokines.32,42 In vivo research in various tissue types has shown that LR-PRP causes a significantly greater acute inflammatory response at 5 days after injection when compared with LP-PRP, with no significant difference in the inflammatory response or cellularity at 14 days.43 Studies of intraarticular PRP injections in arthritic knees have supported this finding.44 Interestingly, there is evi- dence that LR-PRP has both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties.45 Intuitively, one could surmise that an LR-PRP product would be more beneficial in chronic conditions, which may benefit from some degree of inflammation, whereas an LP-PRP product would be more beneficial in acute or subacute conditions, where additional inflamma- tion may be detrimental. With regard to knee OA, positive clinical results have been reported using both LR-PRP and LP-PRP intraarticular injec- tions.25,38 One study comparing LR-PRP and LP-PRP yielded similar efficacy, although the LR-PRP group had a higher incidence of postinjection pain.25
FIGURE 1 PRP preparation: (A) typical PRP centrifuge. After harvest, autologous whole blood is centrifuged to separate and concentrate platelets. This particular single-spin PRP centrifuge can process four samples simultaneously in approximately 5 mins. (B) Top layer (PRP) is aspirated from the bottom syringe into the top syringe of a Bdouble syringe[ system. Unused bottom layer is rich in red and white blood cells. (C) On the left, the final PRP product is ready for injection. On the right, the unused remaining blood products remain in the bottom syringe.
www.ajpmr.com PRP Injection as a Treatment for Knee OA 3
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Therefore, it is unclear whether leukocyte concen- tration has a significant effect on PRP injection effi- cacy in knee OA.
Regarding leukocyte subtypes, there is evi- dence that polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) may have a negative effect on cartilage.10,46 PMNs infiltrating injured tissue can exacerbate or increase the original tissue damage.47Y49 Theoretically, LP- PRP products may be preferable in the treatment of knee OA because of their very low concentrations of PMNs. However, typically, LR-PRP is relatively low in PMNs, and some have postulated that these concen- trations are not high enough to cause significant inflammatory reaction.26 Therefore, the optimal PMN level in PRP injection for knee OA is unknown.
PLT Storage The use of freeze-thawing to produce PLT
releasate/lysate vs. the immediate injection of PRP after preparation is another point of contention. When serial PRP injections are performed, freeze- thawing provides the advantage of a single blood draw. However, many GFs have short half-lives, and there is some evidence that freeze-thawing lowers GF concentrations.27 Nevertheless, this technique has been used in multiple trials demonstrating clinical benefit in patients with knee OA.25,44,50,51
Therefore, the clinical implications of freeze- thawing on PRP injection efficacy are debatable.
Anticoagulant Use Anticoagulation of PRP is another potential
treatment variable. Most commercial PRP systems recommend use of an anticoagulant to prevent premature clotting after harvest. One study found that acid citrate dextrose and citrate-theophylline- adenosine-dipyridamole were superior to heparin and sodium citrate in maintaining the integrity of PLT structures and preventing the PLT spontane- ous activation.52 Furthermore, PRP prepared with acid citrate dextrose or citrate-theophylline- adenosine-dipyridamole released more transforming GF beta and enhanced proliferation of human marrow stromal cells compared with PRP prepared using heparin or sodium citrate as anticoagulants.52 Thus, the limited evidence to date suggests that acid citrate dextrose or citrate-theophylline-adenosine- dipyridamole may be preferable anticoagulants for PRP preparation.
PLT Preactivation PRP preactivation is controversial. Preactivation
is the administration of a substance to promote PLT
release of GFs and other substances involved in the healing process. Clotting, although undesirable be- fore injection, is vital for PLT degranulation after PRP delivery.52 Therefore, when using an anticoag- ulant, PLT activation is necessary for GF release. Commonly used preactivation agents include calci- um chloride (CaCl2) and thrombin. Although stud- ies suggest that CaCl2 provides sufficient PLT activation, there is some evidence that it causes differentiated GF release, possibly affecting out- comes.53,54 Preactivation with thrombin is also not without controversy. Animal models have shown that thrombin stimulates earlier GF release in the first 24 hrs compared with no preactivation.55 However, thrombin has also been shown to inhibit PRP osteoinductivity and, therefore, is possibly detri- mental in knee OA.56 Notably, type 1 collagen alone can activate PLTs after injection, providing sustained release of anabolic cytokines.57 There is also evidence that PLTs without preactivation stimulate wound healing more efficiently than preactivated PLTs.58
Indeed, positive clinical results in knee OA have been reported in PRP injections both with and without PLT preactivation.25,40,44,50,51,59 To date, there are no clinical trials comparing different types of PRP activation.
Local Anesthetic Use The use of local anesthesia for PRP injections
has also been debated. In vitro local anesthetics have been shown to decrease the positive effects of PRP.60 Furthermore, multiple studies have dem- onstrated the chondrotoxicity of local anesthetics.61Y63
Given the lack of clinical data on the subject, it is difficult to give a recommendation regarding the use of local anesthetics with PRP therapy. However, if local anesthesia is used before PRP intraarticular injection, it seems reasonable to avoid injection into the joint.
Palpation vs. Image Guidance Logically, one may expect PRP injection accuracy
to affect knee OA clinical outcomes. It is notable that most PRP knee OA studies to date have used palpation- guided injections with success.25,37Y40,44,50,51,59,64Y69
However, there is evidence that knee injection thera- peutic outcomes improve with accuracy, and this may be more important with biologic agents such as PRP.70,71 Previous studies suggest that the accuracy of palpation-guided knee injections can be highly variable (50%Y93%).72,73 Furthermore, it has been shown that sonographically guided knee joint in- jections are more accurate than palpation-guided
4 Pourcho et al. Am. J. Phys. Med. Rehabil. & Vol. 00, No. 00, Month 2014
Copyright © 2014 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
injections.74 Therefore, the use of image guidance may enhance PRP injection efficacy for knee OA.
Injection Volume and Frequency PRP injection volume and frequency are widely
varied among published knee OA studies, with no clear standardization yet proposed. Injection volume has ranged from as little as 3 ml to as high as 8 ml.37,44 Because the primary effects of PLT GFs occur during approximately 8 days, most authors have elected to perform multiple injections at weekly, biweekly, every-3-wk, or monthly intervals to maxi- mize effects.11,37,40,50,64 Nevertheless, positive effects have been reported with a single injection, with one clinical trial showing equivalent benefits in one vs. two injections.38,59,65 The great variability of these factors in the current literature makes it difficult to derive specific recommendations.
Preinjection and Postinjection Protocol Many specialists recommend avoiding nonste-
roidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) before and after PRP treatment. NSAIDs have been shown to have a negative effect on PLT function and, the- oretically, may reduce PLT GF release.75 Previous investigations have shown that NSAIDs slow the healing rate of various tissues, including the bone, tendon, and muscle.76 There are no data specifically examining NSAID use with PRP. However, consid- ering the pharmacokinetics of most NSAIDs and the duration of the initial phase of tissue healing, it seems reasonable to recommend avoiding NSAIDs at least 5 days before and for 2 wks after PRP injection.77
It is unknown whether specific activity re- strictions or rehabilitation after PRP knee joint in- jection affect treatment outcomes. In studies to date, postinjection activity recommendations have ranged from no restrictions to temporary restric- tion of activities with gradual return to full activi- ty.37,51 Until further studies provide more guidance, it is difficult to provide specific postinjection activ- ity recommendations.
Disease Type and Severity As with other knee OA treatments, the stage of
disease may be an important variable in determin- ing appropriate patient selection for PRP treatment. Studies to date have examined the effect of PRP on knees affected by chondromalacia/early OA to ad- vanced OA, with varying results (as will be discussed later).25,38,67,68 Defining PRP efficacy in various stages of knee OA is essential to guide specialists in appropriate patient selection.
Patient-Specific Factors Other patient factors may also be important to
recognize when considering PRP injection for knee OA. Several clinical studies have suggested that treatment efficacy may be decreased in older pa- tients, although it is unclear whether this is simply related to a tendency toward higher grade OA or other yet unknown factors.25,44,50,51,59,69 Women have had less robust results in some studies, perhaps re- lated to biochemical or biomechanical differences.44,50
Logically, one may deduce that PLT-related comor- bidities, such as thrombocytopenia, may negatively affect PRP efficacy. The use of PRP in various knee OA patient populations requires further study, and potentially confounding patient factors should be accounted for in future investigations.
Even though there are multiple studies show- ing potential benefit of PRP injection for knee OA, the numerous variables make study comparison difficult. High-quality randomized controlled trials that account for these factors are needed to opti- mize PRP treatment of knee OA.
CLINICAL STUDIES OF PRP INJECTION FOR KNEE OA
A PubMed search was performed using key words Bplatelet-rich plasma or PRP or autologous conditioned plasma or ACP and cartilage or chon- drocyte or chondrogenesis or osteoarthritis or osteoarthrosis or arthritis or growth.[ The search included original manuscripts and review articles from 1970 to September 2013. Case studies and original research that specifically mentioned the intraarticular use of PRP in knee OA were also in- cluded. Studies investigating PRP exclusively for osteochondral lesions were excluded. Sixteen pub- lications were identified using this search and the selection criteria. For simplicity, the summary below is divided into case series, nonrandomized cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials (see Table 2).
Case Series In 2010, Sampson et al.78 published a pro-
spective case series of 14 patients with unclassified Bprimary and secondary OA[ of the knee. These patients were treated with three 3-ml sonographically guided injections of CaCl2- and thrombin-activated PRP with an unspecified leukocyte and PLT concen- tration, at 3-wk intervals. Patients were restricted from NSAID use 1 wk before treatment and 1 mo after treatment and were instructed to restrict the use
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of the treated leg for 24 hrs after each injection. Outcomes were measured at the 12-mo follow-up with the Brittberg-Peterson Visual Analog Pain, Ac- tivities and Expectations Scale, in addition to the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). The authors also sonographically measured the trochlear cartilage thickness before injection and at 6 mos. Results indicated that PRP improved out- comes in all measures with no significant sono- graphic changes in cartilage thickness.
In addition, in 2010, Kon et al.44 published a prospective case series on 91 patients (115 joints) with Kellgren-Lawrence grades 1Y4 of knee OA. Patients were treated with three 3-ml palpation- guided injections of CaCl2-activated LR-PRP/lysate with a PLT concentration of 6�BL, at 3-wk intervals. After the procedure, patients were instructed to restrict the use of the leg, ice, and avoid NSAIDs/ steroids for 24 hrs. Thereafter, mild activity (light cycling/pool exercises) was allowed during the 42-day injection cycle period with subsequent gradual return to full activity. The International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective and objective question- naire and EuroQol Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS) were used to measure outcomes at 6 and 12 mos. Overall patient outcomes improved at 6 mos, with subsequent decline at 12 mos, although they remained improved from BL (P G 0.0005). Patients with higher OA severity showed less improvement (cartilage lesion 9 Kellgren- Lawrence 1Y3 9 Kellgren Lawrence 4). In addition, older patients (965 yrs), women, and those with a higher body mass index had less benefit, whereas previous knee surgery did not seem to influence re- sults. The most common adverse reaction reported was postinjection pain and swelling that resolved spontaneously at 2 wks.
In 2011, the same authors reported on this same patient population at 24 mos, with only one patient lost to follow-up (114 joints).50 All evaluated parameters worsened by 24 mos, although re- mained improved from BL (P = 0.0014). Median duration of beneficial effect was 9 mos. Younger patients, men, and patients with less severe OA (by Kellgren-Lawrence grading as above) had better results and a longer duration of benefit.
Wang-Saegusa et al.64 in 2011 reported the results of their prospective case series on 261 pa- tients (359 joints) with Outerbridge grades 1Y4 of knee OA. Patients in this study received three 5-ml palpation-guided injections of CaCl2-activated LP- PRP with an unspecified PLT concentration, at 2-wk intervals. There were no postinjection physical ac- tivity or NSAID restrictions mentioned. Outcomes were measured with the VAS for Pain, Short Form
(36) Health Survey (SF), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), and Lequesne index at 6-mo follow-up. Similar to previ- ous smaller studies, patients displayed statistically significant improvements in all pain and functional outcomes.
In 2013, Halpern et al.65 published a case series of 17 patients (18 joints) with Kellgren grades 1Y2 of knee OA. Of the included joints, 15 had preinjection and postinjection magnetic resonance imaging. All knees were injected with a single 6-ml palpation- guided injection of LP-PRP. There was no mention of PRP preactivation or specific PLT concentrations. Postinjection physical activity and NSAID restriction were also not specified. Outcomes were measured with VAS (pain, function, and activities of daily living) and WOMAC scores at 12 mos. Pain and function improved with statistical significance in all patients, with no magnetic resonance imaging changes in 73% of the patients at 1 yr.
Nonrandomized Cohort Studies In 2008, Sánchez et al.37 published the first
study examining PRP in knee OA, a retrospective cohort study of 60 patients (two groups) with uni- lateral Ahlbäck grades 1Y4 disease. The first group of 30 patients was treated with three 6- to 8-ml palpation-guided injections of CaCl2-activated LP- PRP with a PLT concentration of È2� BL, at 1-wk intervals. The second group of 30 patients was treated with three 2-ml injections of high- molecular-weight hyaluronic acid (HWHA), also at 1-wk intervals. NSAID or postprocedure activity restrictions were not specified. The WOMAC was used to assess clinical outcomes in pain, stiffness, and function. Treatment success rates (40% of de- crease in WOMAC pain score) were also measured. Both groups showed statistically significant benefits in pain and function. However, the PRP group had a higher treatment success rate with greater pain and functional improvements at 5-wk follow-up, all with statistical significance. Although encourag- ing in demonstrating the feasibility and short-term safety of intraarticular PRP injections, this investi- gation was limited by its very short-term follow-up.
In 2011, Kon et al.51 published a multicenter three-arm prospective cohort study of 150 patients with unilateral Kellgren grades 1Y4 OA. In this study, the clinical efficacy of PRP was compared with the efficacy of low-molecular-weight HA (LWHA) and HWHA. Patients in the PRP arm (50 joints) received three 5-ml palpation-guided in- jections of CaCl2-activated LR-PRP/lysate with PLT
6 Pourcho et al. Am. J. Phys. Med. Rehabil. & Vol. 00, No. 00, Month 2014
Copyright © 2014 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
(C o n ti n u ed
o n n ex t p a g e)
TA B LE
2 C lin ic a l s tu d ie s o f P R P in je c ti o n in th e tr e a tm
e n t o f k n e e O A
A u th or s
D es ig n
S u bj ec ts
D is ea se
T re at m en t
P re ac t
P R P
V ol
F /U
O u tc om
e R es u lt s
S am
ps on
et al .
(2 01 0)
7 8
C as e se ri es
14 P ts , 14
Jt s
P ri m ar y an d
se co n da ry
O A
3x P R P qa
4 w k
T h ro m bi n +
C aC
l 2 L R -P R P
È 6 m l 12
m os
B P V A S , K O O S ,
U S F C T
Im pr ov ed
pa in
an d fu n ct io n al
ou tc om
es .N
o si gn
ifi ca n t ch an ge
in U S F C T at
6 m os .
K on
et al .
(2 01 0)
4 4
C as e se ri es
90 P ts , 11
4 Jt s
K L G r 1Y 4
3x P R P q 3 w k
C aC
l 2 L R -P R P /l ys at e,
(P L T , È 6�
B L )
5 m l 12
m os
IK D C , E Q -V A S
Im pr ov ed
ou tc om
es at
6 m os
w it h
de cl in e at
12 m os
bu t st il l ab ov e
B L .A
ll ou
tc om
es w or se n ed
be tw ee n 12
an d 24
m os .M
ed ia n
du ra ti on
of im
pr ov em
en t w as
9 m os .B
et te r re su lt s in
yo u n ge r
an d lo w -g ra de
O A .
F il ar do
et al .
(2 01 1)
5 0
24 m os
W an g- S ae gu
sa et
al . (2 01
1) 6 4
C as e se ri es
26 1 P ts , 35
9 Jt s
O u te rb ri dg
e G r 1Y 4
3x P R P q 2 w k
C aC
l 2 L P -P R P
5 m l
6 m os
V A S (P ai n ),
S F -3 6,
W O M A C ,
L eq u es n e
A ll ou
tc om
es im
pr ov ed , ra n gi n g
fr om
36 %
to 73
% .
H al pe rn
et al .
(2 01 3)
6 5
C as e se ri es
17 P ts , 18
Jt s
K L G r 1Y 2
1x P R P
N S
L P -P R P
6 m l 12
m os
V A S (P ai n ,
F u n ct io n , A D L s) ,
W O M A C
Im pr ov ed
pa in
an d fu n ct io n al
ou tc om
es . pe rc en t h ad
n o
w or se n in g of
O A on
m ag n et ic
re so n an ce
im ag in g.
S án ch ez
et al .
(2 00 8)
3 7
R et ro sp ec ti ve
co h or t st u dy
60 P ts , 60
Jt s
A h lb äc k G r 1Y
4 G rp
A (3 0 Jt s) ,
3x P R P q 1 w k
C aC
l 2 L P -P R P
(P L T , È 2�
B L )
6Y 8 m l
5 w ks
W O M A C
P R P G rp
h ad
be tt er
pa in
an d
fu n ct io n al
ou tc om
es th an
th e
H A G rp .
G rp
B (3 0 Jt s) ,
3x H W H A q 1 w k
N A
N A
2 m l
K on
et al .
(2 01 1)
5 1
P ro sp ec ti ve
co h or t st u dy
15 0 P ts , 15
0 Jt s
K L G r 1Y 4
G rp
A (5 0 Jt s) ,
3x P R P q 2 w k
C aC
l 2 L R -P R P /l ys at e
(P L T , È 6�
B L )
5 m l
6 m os
E Q -V A S , IK D C
P R P be tt er
th an
H A G rp s in
yo u n ge r
(G 50
yr s ol d) ,m
or e ac ti ve ,a n d
lo w -g ra de
O A pa ti en ts .P
R P /H A
G rp s sh ow
ed eq u al im
pr ov em
en ts
in ol de r (9 50
yr s ol d)
pa ti en ts an d
h ig h -g ra de
O A .
G rp
B (5 0 Jt s) ,
3x H W H A q 2 w k
N A
N A
2 m l
G rp
C (5 0 Jt s) ,
3x L W H A q 2 w k
N A
N A
2 m l
N ap ol it an o
et al . (2 01
2) 3 9 P ro sp ec ti ve
co h or t st u dy
27 P ts , 34
Jt s
G rp
A (1 9 Jt s) ,
K L G r 1Y 3
3x P R P q 1 w k
C al ci u m
G lu co n at e L P -P R P
(P L T , È 2. 3�
B L )
È 5 m l
6 m os
N u m er ic
R at in g
S ca le
(P ai n ),
W O M A C
B ot h gr ou
ps h ad
im pr ov ed
pa in
an d fu n ct io n al
ou tc om
es .
G rp
B (1 5 Jt s) ,
O u te rb ri dg e
G r 1Y 2
G ob
bi et
al .
(2 01 2)
4 0
P ro sp ec ti ve
co h or t st u dy
50 P ts , 50
Jt s
(2 5 n at iv e an d 25
op er at ed
kn ee s)
K L G r 1Y 3
2x P R P q 1 m o
N on
e L R -P R P
(P L T , È 2�
B L )
5 m l 12
m os
V A S (P ai n ),
IK D C , K O O S ,
T eg n er , M ar x
Im pr ov ed
pa in
an d fu n ct io n al
ou tc om
es in
bo th
n at iv e an d
op er at ed
kn ee s.
F il ar do
et al .
(2 01 2)
2 5
P ro sp ec ti ve
co h or t st u dy
14 4 P ts , 14
4 Jt s
K L G r 1Y 4
G rp
A (7 2 Jt s) ,
3x P R P q 3 w k
L P -P R P
(P L T , È 1. 5�
B L )
5 m l 12
m os
E Q -V A S ,
IK D C , T eg n er
B ot h P R P G rp s h ad
eq u al
im pr ov em
en t w it h be tt er
re su lt s
in yo u n ge r pa ti en ts
an d
O A .
L R -P R P G rp
h ad
m or e tr an si en t
sw el li n g an d pa in .
G rp
B (7 2 Jt s) ,
3x P R P q 3 w k
C aC
l 2 L R -P R P /l ys at e
(P L T ,È
4. 7�
B L )
S pa ko
vá et
al .
(2 01 2)
6 6
P ro sp ec ti ve
co h or t st u dy
12 0 P ts , 12
0 Jt s
K L G r 1Y 3
G rp
A (6 0 Jt s) ,
3x P R P q 1 w k
C aC
l 2 L R -P R P
(P L T , È 4. 5�
B L )
3 m l
6 m os
N u m er ic
R at in g
S ca le
(P ai n ),
W O M A C
P R P G rp
h ad
gr ea te r pa in
an d
fu n ct io n al
im pr ov em
en ts
th an
H A G rp .
G rp
B (6 0 Jt s) ,
3x H W H A q 1 w k
N A
N A
2 m l
www.ajpmr.com PRP Injection as a Treatment for Knee OA 7
Copyright © 2014 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
TA B LE
2 (C
o n ti n u e d )
A u th or s
D es ig n
S u bj ec ts
D is ea se
T re at m en t
P re ac t
P R P
V ol
F /U
O u tc om
e R es u lt s
Ja n g
et al .
(2 01
3) 5 9
P ro sp ec ti ve
co h or t st u dy
65 P ts , 90
Jt s
G rp
A (3 8 Jt s) ,
K L G r 1
1x P R P
N on
e L R -P R P
3 m l 12
m os
V A S (P ai n ),
IK D C
A ll O A G rp s h ad
im pr ov ed
ou tc om
es at
6 m os
th at
de te ri or at ed
at 12
m os ,b u t st il l ab ov e B L .M
ea n
re la ps e ti m e w as
8. 8 m os .B
et te r
an d lo n ge r du
ra ti on
re su lt s in
G r
1 O A w it h m ea n re la ps e at
9. 9 m os .
G rp
B (3 6 Jt s) ,
K L G r 2
G rp
C (1 6 Jt s) ,
K L G r 3
S án ch ez
et al .
(2 01
2) 6 7
R an do
m iz ed
co n tr ol le d tr ia l
17 6 P ts , 17
6 Jt s
A h lb äc k G r 1Y 3
G rp
A (8 9 Jt s) ,
3x P R P q 1 w k
C aC
l 2 L P -P R P
8 m l
6 m os
R es po n de rs
(5 0%
of pa in
re du
ct io n ),
W O M A C
P R P G rp
h ad
m or e pa in
re sp on
de rs
th an
H A G rp .N
o st at is ti ca l
G rp
di ff er en ce s in
ot h er
W O M A C sc or es .
G rp
B (8 7 Jt s) ,
3x H W H A q
1 w k
N A
N A
2 m l
C er za
et al .
(2 01
2) 6 8
R an do
m iz ed
co n tr ol le d tr ia l
12 0 P ts , 12
0 Jt s
K L G r 1Y 3
G rp
A (6 0 Jt s) ,
4x P R P q 1 w k
N on
e L P -P R P
5. 5 m l
6 m os
W O M A C
P R P G rp
w it h be tt er
an d lo n ge r
du ra ti on
im pr ov em
en ts co m pa re d
w it h H A G rp .P
R P eq u al ly ef fe ct iv e
in K L G r 1Y 3.
G rp
B (6 0 Jt s) ,
4x L W H A q 1 w k
N A
N A
2 m l
F il ar do
et al .
(2 01
2) 6 9
R an do
m iz ed
co n tr ol le d tr ia l
10 9 P ts , 10
9 Jt s
K L G r 1Y 3
G rp
A (5 4 Jt s) ,
3x P R P q 1 w k
C aC
l 2 L R -P R P /l ys at e
(P L T , È 5�
B L )
5 m l 12
m os
IK D C , E Q -V A S ,
T eg n er , K O O S
B ot h G rp s h ad
im pr ov ed
ou tc om
es ,
w it h n o st at is ti ca l G rp
di ff er en ce s.
P R P G rp
tr en d to w ar d be tt er
IK D C
sc or es
in lo w -g ra de
O A su bg ro u p.
P R P w it h m or e tr an si en t
po st in je ct io n pa in .
G rp
B (5 5 Jt s) ,
3x H W H A q
1 w k
N A
N A
2 m l
P at el
et al .
(2 01
3) 3 8
R an do
m iz ed
co n tr ol le d tr ia l
78 P ts , 15
6 Jt s
A h lb äc k G r 1Y
2 G rp
A (5 2 Jt s) ,
1x P R P
C aC
l 2 L P -P R P
(È 3�
B L )
È 8 m l
6 m os
V A S (P ai n ),
W O M A C
P R P on
e- an d tw o- in je ct io n G rp s h ad
eq u al pa in
an d fu n ct io n al
im pr ov em
en ts .B
ot h su pe ri or
to sa li n e pl ac eb o. Im
pr ov em
en ts
sl ig h tl y de cr ea se d at
6 m os .B
et te r
ou tc om
es in
lo w er
gr ad e O A .
G rp
B (5 0 Jt s) ,
2x P R P q 3 w ks
C aC
l 2 L P -P R P
(È 3�
B L )
G rp
C (4 6 Jt s)
1x sa li n e
N A
N A
a In je ct io n in te rv al
(i .e ., 3x
P R P q 4 w ks
= 3 P R P in je ct io n s pe rf or m ed
at 4- w k in te rv al s) .
A D L s, ac ti vi ti es
of da il y li vi n g; B P V A S ,B
ri tt be rg -P et er so n V is u al A n al og
P ai n ,A
ct iv it ie s, an d E xp ec ta ti on
s S co re ;F
/U ,f ol lo w -u p in te rv al ;G
r, gr ad e; G rp ,g ro u p; Jt s, jo in ts ;K
L ,K
el lg re n -L aw
re n ce ;N
A ,n
ot ap pl ic ab le ; N S , n ot
sp ec ifi ed ; P re ac t, pr ea ct iv at io n ; P ts , pa ti en ts ; S F -3 6,
S h or t F or m
(3 6)
H ea lt h S u rv ey ; U S F C T , u lt ra so u n d fe m or al
ca rt il ag e th ic kn
es s; V ol , in je ct io n vo lu m e.
8 Pourcho et al. Am. J. Phys. Med. Rehabil. & Vol. 00, No. 00, Month 2014
Copyright © 2014 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
concentration of È6� BL, at 2-wk intervals. Both LWHA (50 joints) and HWHA (50 joints) treatment arms received three 2-ml palpation-guided injections of the respective viscosupplement at 2-wk intervals. Activity and NSAID restrictions were similar to other PRP studies by the same authors mentioned previ- ously. Outcomes were measured with EQ-VAS and IKDC scores at 6 mos. Although all three groups improved, the PRP group showed statistically greater and longer-term improvements in pain and function than the two HA groups, especially in younger (G50 yrs old), more active patients with less severe OA. Older (950 yrs old) patients with high-grade knee OA showed more modest improvements that were simi- lar among the PRP and both HA groups.
Napolitano et al.39 in 2012 reported on a pro- spective cohort study of 27 patients (34 joints) with knee OA, separated into two groups based on disease classification. Nineteen joints had Kellgren-Lawrence grades 1Y3 OA, and 15 joints had Outerbridge grades 1Y2 of osteochondral lesions. All patients received three È5-ml palpation-guided injections of Ca-gluconate-activated LP-PRP with a PLT con- centration of È2.3� BL, at 1-wk intervals. Patients were instructed to avoid NSAIDs and Bheavy[ physi- cal activity for 2 wks after injection. Outcomes were measured at 1 wk after the last injection and at 6 mos using the Pain Numeric Rating Scale and WOMAC. Both the OA and osteochondral groups demonstrated improved pain and function scores at the 1-wk follow-up that were maintained at 6 mos, with no mention of significant differences between the groups.
In 2012, Gobbi et al.40 published a prospective cohort study of 50 patients with unilateral OA sepa- rated into two groups with Kellgren-Lawrence grades 1Y3 of knee OA. The first group (25 patients) had nonoperated knees, andthe second group(25patients) were status-post either microfracture or cartilage shaving procedures. Both groups received two 5-ml palpation-guided injections of nonactivated LR-PRP with PLT concentrations of È2� BL, separated by 1 mo. After the procedure, patients were instructed to ice for 20 mins every 2Y3 hrs for 24 hrs and restrict Bvigorous activity[ for at least 48 hrs. There was no mention of NSAID restrictions. Outcomes at 12 mos were measured with the VAS for Pain, IKDC, KOOS, Tegner, and Marx scores. Both nonoperated and postsurgical patients demonstrated statistically sig- nificant improvements in all outcomes and returned to previous activities, including recreational sports. This study was unique in showing positive outcomes without PRP preactivation and in the treatment of postoperative knees.
In 2012, Filardo et al.25 reported a prospec- tive cohort study comparing the efficacy of LR-PRP with LP-PRP in patients with knee OA. This trial investigated 144 patients with unilateral Kellgren- Lawrence grades 1Y4 of knee OA. One group of 72 patients received three 5-ml palpation-guided in- jections of CaCl2-activated LR-PRP/lysate with PLT concentrations of È4.7� BL and leukocyte concen- trations of È1.4� BL, at 3-wk intervals. The other 72 patients received three 5-ml palpation-guided in- jections of CaCl2-activated LP-PRP with PLT con- centrations of È1.5� BL and no leukocytes, also performed at 3-wk intervals. Patients followed the same postprocedure exercise and NSAID restrictions as in the previous studies from these authors. Out- comes were measured with the EQ-VAS, IKDC, and Tegner scores at 12 mos. Both treatment groups had similar statistically significant improvements in all outcomes at 2 mos with further improvement at 6 mos and stable results at 12 mos. Results again showed greater pain and function improvements in younger patients with a lower grade of knee OA. However, other factors, such as BMI, sex, bilateral disease, and previ- ous surgery, did not influence the outcomes. Patients receiving LR-PRP did report a higher incidence of postinjection swelling and discomfort (P G 0.03), although this resolved spontaneously after a few days. With otherwise similar results between the LR-PRP and LP-PRP groups, the authors recom- mended choosing a system based on practical con- siderations (e.g., cost, time, technical difficulty).
Spaková et al.66 in 2012 reported results on 120 patients with unilateral Kellgren-Lawrence grades 1Y3 of knee OA, comparing PRP and HA. One group of patients (60 joints) received three 3-ml palpation- guided injections of CaCl2-activated LR-PRP with a PLT concentration of È4.5� BL and leukocyte concentration of È3.6� BL, at 1-wk intervals. The other group (60 joints) received three 2-ml palpation-guided injections of HWHA at 1-wk in- tervals. Patients were instructed to withhold use of NSAIDs for 5 days before the procedure and 1 wk after the procedure. There were no postprocedure exercise restrictions. WOMAC and Pain Numeric Rating Scale scores improved in both PRP and HA groups at 3 mos, with slight worsening at 6 mos that remained statistically better than before treat- ment. The PRP group had statistically superior outcomes.
In 2013, Jang et al59 published a prospective cohort study on 65 patients (90 joints) with knee OA separated into three groups based on radiographic severity (Kellgren-Lawrence grades 1Y3). All groups receivedone3-mlpalpation-guidedinjectionofLR-PRP
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without preactivation. Specific PLT and leukocyte concentrations were unspecified. Patients were instructed to not use NSAIDs for 2 wks and avoid Bextensive use[ of the knee for several days after in- jection. Outcomes were measured with the VAS for Pain and IKDC at 12 mos. Statistically significant improvementswerereportedinallgroupswithamean relapse in pain at 8.8 mos. Patients with grade 1 knee OA had better and longer duration pain relief (mean, 9.9 mos), whereas those with grade 3 disease had less effective,shorter durationpainrelief(mean,5.6 mos). The presence of patellofemoral joint disease was also associatedwithashorterdurationofpainrelief(mean, 7.9 vs. 10.2 mos, if not present).
Randomized Controlled Trials Four randomized controlled trials investigat-
ing the efficacy of PRP injection for knee OA have been published. In 2012, Sánchez et al.67 reported the first double-blinded, randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of LP-PRP with HWHA in 176 patients with unilateral Ahlbäck grades 1Y3 of knee OA. Eighty-nine patients received three 8-ml palpation-guided injections of CaCl2-activated LP- PRP with unspecified PLT concentration, at 1-wk intervals. The other 87 patients received three 2-ml palpation-guided injections of HWHA, also at 1-wk intervals. Patients were not allowed to use NSAIDs during the 6-mo follow-up period, and there was no mention of postprocedure activity restrictions. Outcomes were measured with the WOMAC, using 50% pain reduction as the primary outcome. At 6 mos, the number of patients with level of pain relief was higher (P = 0.044) in the PRP group (38.2%) than in the HA group (24.1%). Regar- ding secondary WOMAC outcomes, both groups improved, with greater, although not statistically significant, improvements observed in the PRP group.
In 2012, Cerza et al.68 compared PRP with HA in 120 randomized patients with unilateral Kellgren- Lawrence grades 1Y3 of knee OA. Sixty patients received four 5.5-ml palpation-guided injections of LP-PRP without preactivation and unspecified PLT/ leukocyte concentrations, at 1-wk intervals. The other 60 patients received four 2-ml palpation- guided injections of LWHA, also at 1-wk intervals. There was no mention of NSAID or activity re- strictions. The PRP group had statistically better WOMAC scores (combined pain, stiffness, and physical function subscales) than the HA group at the 1-, 3-, and 6-mo follow-up points. Whereas the HA group’s WOMAC scores worsened between 1
and 6 mos, the PRP group scores improved be- tween 1 and 3 mos and remained stable through the 6-mo follow-up. With regard to OA severity, the PRP group showed similar WOMAC improve- ments among all grades, whereas the HA group had statistically less benefit in subjects with grade 3 knee OA.
Filardo et al.69 in 2012 published a double- blinded, randomized controlled trial in 109 patients with unilateral Kellgren-Lawrence grades 1Y3 of knee OA, again comparing efficacy of PRP with HA injections. Fifty-four patients received three 5-ml palpation-guided injections of CaCl2-activated LR- PRP/lysate with a PLT concentration of È5� BL and leukocyte concentration of È1.2� BL, at 1-wk intervals. The second group of 55 patients received three 2-ml palpation-guided injections of HWHA, also at 1-wk intervals. NSAID and activity restric- tions were similar to the aforementioned studies by these investigators. Patient outcomes were mea- sured with the IKDC, EQ-VAS, Tegner, and KOOS at 2, 6, and 12 mos. Compared with BL, both PRP and HA groups showed statistically significant im- provements in outcomes at all time points, with no significant differences between treatment groups. However, in a subanalysis of patients with low- grade articular degeneration (Kellgren-Lawrence grades 1Y2), the PRP group had better IKDC sub- jective scores than the HA group at 6 and 12 mos; this difference nearly reached statistical signifi- cance (Ps = 0.07 and 0.08, respectively). The PRP group had a higher incidence of postinjection pain, but this was self-limiting within a few days.
In 2013, Patel et al.38 published the first double-blinded, randomized controlled trial com- paring PRP injection with a saline control. In their study of 78 patients (156 joints) with bilateral Ahlbäck grades 1Y2 of knee OA, patients were sep- arated into three treatment arms. The first group (26 patients/52 joints) received one È8-ml palpation- guided injection of CaCl2-activated LP-PRP with a PLT concentration of È3�BL (mean, 310�103/KL) and no leukocytes. The second group (25 subjects/50 joints) received two È8-ml palpation-guided in- jections of the same LP-PRP product, separated by 3 wks. The last group (23 subjects/46 joints) received one 8-ml palpation-guided injection of saline, esta- blishing a placebo control. Patients were immo- bilized for 10 mins after injection, but otherwise, no activity restrictions were specified. NSAIDs were not allowed during the follow-up period. Outcomes were measured with the VAS for Pain and WOMAC at 6 wks and 3 and 6 mos. Both PRP groups showed statistically significant improvements in all outcomes
10 Pourcho et al. Am. J. Phys. Med. Rehabil. & Vol. 00, No. 00, Month 2014
Copyright © 2014 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
at all time points. There was a slight, but significant, decrease in benefit at 6 mos, but all outcomes remained significantly improved from BL. In con- trast, the saline control group showed a gradual, slight worsening in all outcomes, which was statis- tically significant for the total WOMAC and pain scores. Interestingly, there was no significant differ- ence in outcomes between the one- and two-injection PRP groups. Subjects with Ahlbäck grade 1 of knee OA had greater WOMAC improvements than those with grade 2 OA. Age, sex, and BMI were not corre- lated with treatment efficacy. Limitations included the use of only bilateral injections and a relatively small sample size (power analysis based on VAS for Pain). The small sample size may have reduced the ability to detect a potential difference between the one- and two- injection PRP groups. Neverthe- less, the study was novel in its comparison of diffe- rent PRP injection frequencies and use of a saline placebo group.
RECOMMENDATIONS AND FUTURE RESEARCH CONSIDERATIONS
Despite the widespread use of PRP for ortho- pedic conditions, research on the use of PRP in- jection for knee OA is still in its infancy, and many questions remain unanswered.24 Until recently, the evidence primarily consisted of expert opinion and uncontrolled studies, with minimal accounting for variables.79 However, the quality of PRP research in knee OA has improved significantly with the emer- gence of randomized controlled trials.
Although the optimal protocol for PRP injec- tion in knee OA has not been defined, some general conclusions can be drawn from the current litera- ture. First, intraarticular knee PRP, as applied in published studies, seems to be safe. Although some patients experience transient increases in pain or swelling, these symptoms typically resolve within 2Y3 days, and no long-term side effects have been reported within the available 1- to 2-year follow-up periods. Of note, transient postinjection pain and swelling seem to be more common with LR-PRP than LP-PRP.25 Second, PRP seems to be more ef- ficacious than HA in younger (G50 yrs old) patients with mild disease and equally effective as HA in older patients with more severe OA.25,50,51,59,68,69
Finally, the clinical benefits of PRP with respect to pain and function seem to decline starting at 6Y9 mos after treatment, with further loss of benefit at 24 mos.44,50,59
Although PRP seems to be a safe and effective treatment of knee OA, there are still many questions
that future studies will hopefully answer. On the basis of the literature to date, the optimal PRP protocol remains unclear. Notably, the few studies to date comparing various PLT/leukocyte concen- trations and injection frequencies have not dem- onstrated significant differences in PRP treatment efficacy.25,38 Nevertheless, there is a pressing need for future investigations to compare PRP protocols with different PLT concentrations, leukocyte/PMN concentrations, activation methods, and injection frequencies/volumes. Other factors that are of pos- sible importance and warrant reporting in future studies include blood draw/injection needle gauge, anticoagulant method, local anesthetic use, and NSAID/activity restrictions. Although almost all studies to date have used palpation guidance for injections, future investigators should also consider the use of image guidance to minimize injection inaccuracy as a confounding factor.70Y74 Beyond optimizing PRP protocols, further research is also needed to define patient-specific prognostic factors to aid in identifying likely responders. Ideally, forthcoming investigations should be blinded, ran- domized controlled trials, with follow-up of at least 1 yr and accounting of the aforementioned variables (see Table 1).
At this time, intraarticular PRP injection is not a standard treatment of knee OA. However, in pa- tients who have not adequately responded to tradi- tional nonoperative treatments, especially young patients with low-grade knee OA, PRP should be a treatment consideration. The available literature indicates that PRP is a better option than HA for many knee OA patients. Now, further research is needed to compare PRP with corticosteroid injec- tion, which is the current first-line standard of care of injection therapy used in the treatment of knee OA.80,81 Until these data are available, PRP will re- main a second-line treatment option.
It seems likely that PRP will become increas- ingly more available and affordable for patients with early knee OA. Future studies will determine how PRP will fit in the knee OA treatment algorithm as well as its potential role in the treatment of OA affecting other joints.
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