Objectives: This study investigated the effect of anticoagulants on platelet-rich plasma (PRP) quality to determine the appropriate anticoagulants for PRP production.
Design and methods: This study was carried out at the Plastic Surgery Hospital of Peking Union Medical College. The microstructure of platelets collected with heparin, citrate, acid citrate dextrose (ACD) and citrate-theophylline-adenosine-dipyridamole (CTAD) was observed. The extent of spontaneous activation of platelets was detected by measuring sP-selectin in plasma. The amount of TGF-beta1 released from PRP and the effect of PRP on cell proliferation were also studied.
Results: ACD and CTAD were superior to heparin and citrate in maintaining the integrity of platelet structures and preventing the platelet spontaneous activation. ACD-PRP and CTAD-PRP released more TGF-beta1 and significantly enhanced the proliferation of human marrow stromal cells compared to heparin-PRP and citrate-PRP.
Conclusions: The PRP quality was closely related to the type of anticoagulants. ACD and CTAD are appropriate anticoagulants for PRP production.