title: Efficacy and safety profile of a compound composed of platelet-rich plasma and hyaluronic acid in the treatment for knee osteoarthritis (preliminary results).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The combined use of hyaluronic acid and platelet-rich plasma has never been reported in the treatment for osteoarthritis. Aim of this paper was to evaluate the efficacy of this association and to compare retrospectively these results with those of a cohort of patients treated with platelet-rich plasma only.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis were enrolled. After clinical and ultrasound evaluation, patients received a weekly intra-articular injection of 2 ml of hyaluronic acid added with 2 ml of platelet-rich plasma for 3 weeks. Follow-up was performed at 1, 3, and 6 months. The same clinical parameters were retrospectively collected from a cohort of patients treated with 4-5 ml of platelet-rich plasma only.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty knees were treated in both groups. The intra-group comparison showed a significant improvement in clinical and functional outcomes at 1, 3, and 6 months, while the infra-group comparison did not show any significant difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The association of platelet-rich plasma + hyaluronic acid has the same efficacy of platelet-rich plasma only, administered in higher volume. We may infer that hyaluronic acid works synergically and improves the activity of several molecules contained in platelet-rich plasma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University G. d'Annunzio, Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66013, Chieti Scalo, CH, Italy. m.abate@unich.it.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abate
authors.affiliation: Immunohaematology and Transfusional Medicine Service, "SS. Annunziata" Hospital, Chieti Scalo, CH, Italy.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verna
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University G. d'Annunzio, Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66013, Chieti Scalo, CH, Italy.
authors.forename: Cosima
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schiavone
authors.affiliation: Immunohaematology and Transfusional Medicine Service, "SS. Annunziata" Hospital, Chieti Scalo, CH, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Di Gregorio
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University G. d'Annunzio, Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66013, Chieti Scalo, CH, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Salini
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000628:therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055675:Viscosupplements / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D055675:Viscosupplements; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid
keywords: Hyaluronic acid; Knee osteoarthritis; Platelet-rich plasma; Safety profile