Clinical outcome of photoactivated platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is the most common chronic degenerative joint diseases affecting the quality of life of patients. Pain and loss of function are the main clinical features that lead to treatment. For middle-aged and older patients with earlier stages of OA, conservative nonsurgical interventions have been proposed to treat the painful joint. More recently, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a biological therapy, has become a treatment option to improve the status of the joint for patients with OA. The present study evaluated the clinical outcome of photoactivated platelet–rich plasma (PA-PRP) in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis. Methods: A total of 232 patients with knee osteoarthritis, aged between 40-70 years were enrolled and treated in the present study and intervention for twelve months. The patients fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for knee OA. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities OA index (WOMAC) Questionnaires were used for outcome measurement. Results were evaluated after 12 months of intervention. Results: Female and male patients were 66.8% and 33.2% respectively. Mean age and SD of the patients were 55.69 (± 9.09) and 56.19 (± 9.09) respectively. The mean (SD) score of pain, stiffness and physical function during the 1st visit before treatment were 6.74 (± 3.00), 2.16 (± 1.85) and 22.30 (± 9.17) and after showed 2.44(± 1.66), 0.60 (± 0.74) and 8.84 (± 4.20) respectively. The total mean WOMAC scores during the first visit and after treatment were 31.21 (± 12.19) and 11.82 (± 5.65) respectively. The total score of reduction was statistically significant after treatment (p=0.00). The principal findings of the study were that the mean WOMAC score reduced and there was improved pain, stiffness and functional capacity of patients with knee OA. Conclusion: In conclusion, treatment with PA-PRP for patients with knee osteoarthritis produced beneficial effects in terms of clinical outcomes. These results suggested that PA-PRP might be a valuable therapeutic agent for knee osteoarthritis in Bangladesh. *Correspondence to: Choudhury KN, National Centre for Control of Rheumatic Fever and Heart Disease, Bangladesh, Tel: 8801711359459; E-mail: c.kamrun2014@gmail.com