Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a treatment that can be used as a stand-alone therapy or in conjunction with stem cell therapy. PRP is essentially a super-concentrated collection of platelets and growth factors in the plasma portion of your blood. This autologous blood product is used to facilitate the healing process via the higher than normal concentration of platelets and through the release of a substantial amount of growth factors that then stimulate recovery in non-healing or slowly healing wounds/injuries.
Chronic injuries often occur in situations where the injured tissue has poor blood flow (such as tendon injuries and cartilage degeneration). PRP causes a supra-physiologic release of a variety of growth factors that serve to promote the healing process. Studies have shown that this occurs because these bioactive substances attract stem cells, macrophages, and osteoblasts to the affected area, thereby stimulating tissue regeneration and healing, along with the removal of necrotic tissue. Platelets themselves are responsible for the development of new blood vessels and connective tissue.
PRP has been finding increased use in chronic tendon injuries, as these injuries are often very slow to heal. Tendons are susceptible to injury due to mechanical issues related to the forceful stress on the tendon fibers, causing them to be more vulnerable than other tissues. These injuries are then slow to heal due to general poor vascularity. In addition, tendons often heal through scarring, a process that adversely affects how well they function and increases the probability of re-injury in the future. PRP can be used to help augment the natural healing process by promoting true healing (not scarring) and re-vascularization, and by speeding the healing process. This treatment is increasingly used for lateral epicondylitis ("tennis elbow"), plantar fasciitis, and in chronic Achilles and patellar tendon injuries. For more information, see studies by Mishra et al. in 2006 in the American Journal of Sports Medicine and by Edwards & Calandruccio in American Journal of Hand Surgery in 2003.
Plasma therapy has also shown to be helpful in non-healing skin wounds related to peripheral vascular disease, neurologic conditions, trauma, infection, etc. A 2006 study by McAleer et al. [McAleer JP, Kaplan E, Persich G. Efficacy of concentrated autologous platelet-derived growth factors in chronic lower-extremity wounds. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2006;96(6):482-8.] showed very promising results in healing wounds that had previously failed all other treatments.
In addition, PRP is used with stem cell therapy to promote an intense healing response. The stem cells act as the "seeds", while the PRP serves as the "fertilizer". The growth factors help the stem cells to differentiate into the proper cell lines, promote vascularization of the new tissue, and augment the inflammatory response for an overall faster recovery.
