Platelet-rich plasma, also known as autologous conditioned plasma, is a concentrate of platelet-rich plasma protein derived from whole blood, centrifuged to remove red blood cells. Evidence for benefit is mixed as of 2020, with some evidence for use in certain conditions and against use in other conditions. The cost per injection is generally $US 500 to 2,000 as of 2019.
Medical use
Evidence for benefit of PRP is mixed, with some evidence for use in certain conditions and against use in other conditions. It has been investigated for chronic tendinitis, osteoarthritis, in oral surgery, and in plastic surgery. A 2019 review found it not to be useful in rotator cuff disease. While an older review found that it may be useful. Tentative evidence supports its use in osteoarthritis of the knee. A 2019 meta-analysis found that PRP might be more effective in reducing pain and improving function than hyaluronic acid in knee OA. A 2009 review found few randomized controlled trials that adequately evaluated the safety and efficacy of PRP treatments and concluded that PRP was "a promising, but not proven, treatment option for joint, tendon, ligament, and muscle injuries". As compared to other conservative treatments for non-surgical orthopedic illnesses, evidence does no support the use of PRP as a conservative treatment. A 2018 review found that evidence was lacking for Achilles tendinopathy. A 2019 meta-analysis found that, for most outcomes in Achilles tendinopathy, PRP treatment did not differ from placebo treatment. A 2010 Cochrane review of use in sinus lifts during dental implant placement found no evidence of benefit. A 2013 review stated more evidence was needed to determine effectiveness for hair regrowth. A 2014 Cochrane review of PRP in musculoskeletal injuries found very weak evidence for a decrease in pain in the short term, and no difference in function in the short, medium or long term. There was weak evidence that suggested that harm occurred at comparable, low rates in treated and untreated people. Similarly, another 2017 review for treating pain on skin graft donor sites found the evidence for benefit was poor. It has not been shown to be useful for bone healing. A 2016 review of PRP use to augment bone graft found only one study reporting a difference in bone augmentation, while four studies found no difference.
Adverse effects have been poorly studied. The single systematic review of the literature did not report of the types and number of adverse events. In 2019, Health Canada stated that most autologous cell therapies have little evidence showing they work and can pose risks, such as cross-contamination between people if equipment is not sterilized properly or potentially dangerous immune reactions. Health Canada stopped Canadian clinics from offering these types of services with a donor-patient model. Health Canada later clarified that PRP treatments harvested from, and given back to, the same person was not covered by its initial guidance as the procedure falls under health care provider regulatory bodies.
Composition
There are four general categories of preparation of PRP based on its leukocyte and fibrin content: leukocyte-rich PRP, leukocyte reduced PRP, leukocyte platelet-rich fibrin and pure platelet-rich fibrin. The efficacy of certain growth factors in healing various injuries and the concentrations of these growth factors found within PRP are the theoretical basis for the use of PRP in tissue repair. The platelets collected in PRP are activated by the addition of thrombin and calcium chloride, which induces the release of the mentioned factors from alpha granules. The growth factors and other cytokines present in PRP include:
PRP is prepared by taking blood from the person, and then putting it through two stages of centrifugation designed to separate PRP from platelet-poor plasma and red blood cells. This is usually done by the clinic offering the treatment, using commercially available kits and equipment. The resulting substance varies from person to person and from facility to facility, making it difficult to understand how safe and effective any specific use is.
Society and culture
The cost of a PRP treatment in the U.S. has been quoted as $1000 out-of-pocket expenses, as it is usually not covered by health insurance. PRP has received attention in the popular media as a result of its use by athletes. Use in an office setting is not approved by the FDA. In the 2010s, contentious cosmetic procedures marketed under the name of "vampire facials" grew in popularity, fueled by celebrity endorsement. These "vampire facials" generally center on PRP treatment, and usually involve microneedling. PRP has also been injected into the vagina, in a procedure called "O-shot" or "orgasm shot" with claims that this will improve orgasms. There is no evidence, however, to support these claims.
Doping
Some concern exists as to whether PRP treatments violate anti-doping rules. As of 2010 it was not clear if local injections of PRP could have a systemic impact on circulating cytokine levels, affecting doping tests and whether PRP treatments have systemic anabolic effects or affect performance. In January 2011, the World Anti-Doping Agency removed intramuscular injections of PRP from its prohibitions after determining that there is a "lack of any current evidence concerning the use of these methods for purposes of performance enhancement".
