From the Guidelines
Adding protein concentrate to PRP injections is not recommended due to the potential for altering the composition of PRP unpredictably and interfering with its natural healing properties. PRP therapy already contains concentrated platelets and growth factors derived from the patient's own blood, which are the active components responsible for its therapeutic effects 1. The standard PRP preparation involves drawing the patient's blood, processing it in a centrifuge to separate and concentrate the platelets, and then injecting this concentrated solution into the injured area.
Key Considerations
- The efficacy of PRP relies on the natural balance of growth factors and cytokines present in platelets, which stimulate tissue repair and regeneration.
- Adding external proteins could disrupt this balance and potentially trigger immune reactions or other adverse effects.
- The field of PRP therapy is already plagued with poor standardization and variability in the methods used to generate PRP, with variability in the terminology, purity, content, and quality of products utilized 1.
Clinical Implications
- If you're considering modifying PRP composition, consult with a specialist experienced in regenerative medicine first.
- The typical protocol includes 1-3 injections spaced 2-4 weeks apart, with each injection containing approximately 2-5 times the normal platelet concentration.
- Any future clinical trial should be carefully designed to accurately determine any clinical effects, and, importantly, should also use disease-specific outcome tools 1.
From the Research
Adding Protein Concentrate to PRP Injections
- The concept of adding protein concentrate to PRP injections is supported by studies that highlight the benefits of combining platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with other biological components to enhance its therapeutic effects 2, 3.
- Research has shown that platelet-poor plasma (PPP) contains valuable proteins, such as insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), that can be concentrated and added to PRP to create a more potent biological preparation 2, 3.
- The use of ultrafiltration technologies can help to create a viable and viscous protein concentrate that can be combined with PRP to form a protein-rich, platelet-rich plasma (PR-PRP) matrix 2.
- Studies have demonstrated that PR-PRP matrices can retain and facilitate interactions between invading resident cells, such as macrophages, fibroblasts, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as well as embedded concentrated PRP cells and molecules 2.
- The addition of protein concentrate to PRP injections may also enhance the treatment of osteoarthritis, as concentrated PPP has been shown to contain biologically relevant concentrations of IGF-1 and other anabolic and anti-inflammatory proteins 3.
- However, the optimal composition and preparation of PRP and protein concentrate combinations may vary depending on the specific application and desired therapeutic effect, and further research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits and limitations of these combinations 4, 5.