Can intra-articular injection of freeze-dried platelet-derived factor concentrate regenerate articular cartilage in the knee joint?

Tomohiko Shirata; Yuki Kato

doi:10.1016/j.reth.2019.03.005

Can intra-articular injection of freeze-dried platelet-derived factor concentrate regenerate articular cartilage in the knee joint?

Regen Ther. 2019 May 10:11:5-7. doi: 10.1016/j.reth.2019.03.005. eCollection 2019 Dec.

Authors

Tomohiko Shirata¹, Yuki Kato²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nihon University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
² Department of Sports Medicine, Kameda Medical Center, Chiba, Japan.

Abstract

Freeze-drying methods not only enable the delivery of growth factors using platelets, but also extend the shelf-life of platelet concentrates. The present study shows the clinical results of treating knee osteoarthritis with freeze-dried platelet-derived factor concentrate (PFC). While it improved pain, activities of daily living, sports and recreational activities, and knee-related quality of life, it did not significantly improve symptoms other than pain, such as restricted range of motion and mechanical symptoms. As such, the treatment effect may be attributed to anti-inflammatory action rather than actual cartilage regeneration.

Keywords: Intra-articular injection; KOOS, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score; Knee osteoarthritis; OA, osteoarthritis; PFC, platelet-derived factor concentrate; PRP, platelet-rich plasma; Platelet-derived factor concentrate; Platelet-rich plasma.