Infiltration of plasma rich in growth factors for osteoarthritis of the knee short-term effects on function and quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent, chronic, degenerative condition that generates a high expense. Alternative and co-adjuvant therapies to improve the quality of life and physical function of affected patients are currently being sought.


METHODS
A total of 808 patients with knee pathology were treated with PRGF (plasma rich in growth factors), 312 of them with OA of the knee (Outerbridge grades I-IV) and symptoms of >3 months duration met the inclusion criteria and were evaluated to obtain a sample of 261 patients, 109 women and 152 men, with an average age of 48.39. Three intra-articular injections of autologous PRGF were administered at 2-week intervals in outpatient surgery. The process of obtaining PRGF was carried out following the Anitua Technique. Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire with personal data and the following assessment instruments: VAS, SF-36, WOMAC Index and Lequesne Index before the first infiltration of PRGF and 6 months after the last infiltration.


RESULTS
Statistically significant differences (P < 0.0001) between pre-treatment and follow-up values were found for pain, stiffness and functional capacity in the WOMAC Index; pain and total score, distance and daily life activities in the Lequesne Index; the VAS pain score; and the SF-36 physical health domain. There were no adverse effects related to PRGF infiltration.


CONCLUSIONS
At 6 months following intra-articular infiltration of PRGF in patients with OA of the knee, improvements in function and quality of life were documented by OA-specific and general clinical assessment instruments. These favourable findings point to consider PRGF as a therapy for OA.
Wang-Saegusa
Ana
A
Regenerative Medicine Department, Fundación García Cugat, Hospital Quirón Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Cugat
Ramón
R
Ares
Oscar
O
Seijas
Roberto
R
Cuscó
Xavier
X
Garcia-Balletbó
Montserrat
M
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor