title: Growth factors and anticatabolic substances for prevention and management of intervertebral disc degeneration.
abstract: Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is frequent, appearing from the second decade of life and progressing with age. Conservative management often fails, and patients with IVD degeneration may need surgical intervention. Several treatment strategies have been proposed, although only surgical discectomy and arthrodesis have been proved to be predictably effective. Biological strategies aim to prevent and manage IVD degeneration, improving the function and anabolic and reparative capabilities of the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus cells and inhibiting matrix degradation. At present, clinical applications are still in their infancy. Further studies are required to clarify the role of growth factors and anticatabolic substances for prevention and management of intervertebral disc degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico, University of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Rome, Italy ; Centro Integrato di Ricerca (CIR), Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Umile Giuseppe
authors.initials: UG
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico, University of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Rome, Italy ; Centro Integrato di Ricerca (CIR), Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petrillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico, University of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Rome, Italy ; Centro Integrato di Ricerca (CIR), Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Franceschetti
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Mile End Hospital, 275 Bancroft Road, London E1 4DG, UK.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maffulli
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico, University of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Rome, Italy ; Centro Integrato di Ricerca (CIR), Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Denaro
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