%0 Journal Article
%T The Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Pain, Function, and Quality of Life of Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis
%A Seyed Ahmad Raeissadat
%A Seyed Mansoor Rayegani
%A Marzieh Babaee
%A Elham Ghorbani
%J Pain Research and Treatment
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/165967
%X Background. New studies in the management of knee osteoarthritis have focused on modern therapeutic methods stimulating cartilage healing process. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of 2 courses of leucocyte-rich PRP (LR-PRP) injections on patientsĄŻ QOL and functions and also the relationship between the PRP concentration and mentioned variables. Material and Methods. Sixty-five patients were evaluated. For each participant, WOMAC and the native (Farsi) edition of the SF-36 questionnaire were filled. Two courses of LR-PRP injections with 4-week interval were used. After 6 months, SF-36 and WOMAC questionnaires were filled again for each patient. Results. 60 patients were included in the final analysis. The mean platelet concentrations and white blood cell in PRP was 5-fold increase and 220 per microliter, respectively. The mean total WOMAC revealed significant change ( ). In SF-36, the mean changes of 2 major physical and mental domains were meaningful ( ). Discussion. In our study, 2 injections of PRP, with 4-week interval, improved the pain, stiffness, and functional capacity. Improvements in QOL (both PCS and MCS) were meaningful after injections. These changes were more significant in physical domains. PRP injection may be an alternative therapy in selective patients resistant to current nonsurgical treatments of knee osteoarthritis. 1. Introduction Osteoarthritis, the most common articular disease in humankind, results from defects in articular cartilage and has significant effects on the quality of life (QOL) of patients, especially the elderly. For this reason, the effects of osteoarthritis and related therapeutical interventions on the QOL and patientsĄŻ functions have been assessed in different studies [1]. There are different methods used for alleviating the symptoms of patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), including various medications and supplements (NSAIDs, glucosamine, and chondroitin-sulfate), intra-articular injections (glucocorticoids, hyaluronic acid), physical agents (prescription of appropriate braces, shoes and insoles, exercise therapy, laser therapy, application of heat and cold modalities, etc.), and surgical interventions [2¨C4]. Although some of these treatments have had short- and mid-term effects on improving patientsĄŻ functions and decreasing the level of disability, there still remain controversial results about their effects on decreasing the amount of articular damage and slowing the rate of disease progression. It seems that existing treatments cannot change the pathophysiology of the disease [5, 6].
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/prt/2013/165967/