Factors that modify PRP efficacy

Factors that modify PRP efficacy

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is recognised as a therapeutic field with scarce evidence of efficacy. This is difficult to get because the heterogeneity of the PRP used, and the lack of agreement to define its standard quality features.

PRP efficacy could be modified by several factors along the preparation procedure. (Table 1), but growth factor or platelet content as its surrogated, are probably  the most relevant.

The study  published recently by Reurink et al. (NEJM 370;26. June 26; 2014) on acute muscle injury,  is welcome as offer a well methodological design to improve knowledge on this controversial field,  but the study do not evaluated PRP quality parameters of the products injected,  being difficult to compare their results to other studies or generalise their conclusions to different scenarios where the PRP  product used were different, compromising the external validity of the study.

PRP denomination includes a broad range of products with heterogenic quality parameters, and probably with different therapeutically effect. The consideration of those parameters in the PRP studies is desirable to get unbiased evidences.

Table 1.  Factors  that could modify PRP efficacy. Most relevant in bold.

José Luis Bueno MD

Hematologist