title: The use of platelet-rich plasma for the treatment of osteoarthritis.
abstract: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common cause of disability in the United States. With an aging population, its incidence is only likely to rise. Articular cartilage has a poor capacity to heal. The advent of regenerative medicine has heralded a new approach to early treatment of degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis by focusing on regenerating damaged tissue rather than focusing on replacement. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is one such treatment that has received much recent attention and has been used particularly for tendon healing. Recent studies have focused on assessing its use on degenerative conditions such as OA. In this article, we review the evidence for the pathologic basis for the use of PRP in OA and also the clinical outcomes pertaining to its use. Finally, we also consider reasons for the inconsistent clinical success pertaining to its use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: Prakash
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jayabalan
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hagerty
authors.forename: Megan Helen
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Cortazzo
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055675:Viscosupplements / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D055675:Viscosupplements; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid