Combined use of platelet rich plasma and micro-fat in sport and race horses with degenerative joint disease: preliminary clinical study in eight horses

Abstract

SummaryBackground: To assess the safety and potential efficacy of a standardized technique consisting of intra-articular injection of 10 cc of a homogeneous mixed product using autologous micro-fat and platelet rich plasma (PRP) (ratio 1:1) in the carpus or the fetlock joint of sport horses presenting degenerative joint disease (DJD). Methods: Eight sport horses with DJD confirmed by radiography and ultrasonography and causing lameness and the impossibility to compete were treated. PRP was prepared after a double centrifugation whereas micro-fat was harvested and purified using a closed system. The two products were connected and mixed by gentle back and forth shaking of the syringes to finally obtain 10 ml of an homogeneous mixed product. Follow up was performed from 5 to 10 months with assessment of AAEP lameness score and return to training and competition.Results: Nine joints were treated with significant improvement of the AAEP lameness score three months after the procedure (p = 0.021). Four horses returned to official competition between 5 to 10 months after the procedure (7.0±2.5) and three of them resumed intensive training between 5 to 9 months (6.3±2.3). No adverse event occurred. Conclusion: This study is a first step in the development of innovative therapy for DJD which combines the potential chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs inside equine adipose tissue with the proliferative effect of growth factors present in PRP.

Clodronate improves lameness in horses without changing bone turnover markers

“…Lameness exams were performed 1 week prior to treatment and each week for 3 weeks and again at 8 weeks following treatment using three forms of evaluation: clinical evaluation, an inertial sensor system (Lameness Locator ® ) and coach evaluations (only performed post‐treatment), with all three forms of evaluation blinded to the others. For clinical evaluation, the horse was hand‐walked in a 10 m straight line, hand‐jogged in a 60 m straight line twice, and hand‐jogged in two 20 m circles to the right and left on a concrete surface, and lameness was scored using the AAEP scoring system . Following clinical evaluation, the same veterinarian supervised data collection for the inertial based sensor system (Lameness Locator ® ).…”

Clinical therapy of hyaluronic acid combined with platelet‑rich plasma for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis

“…Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a multifunctional platelet concentrate of the blood that may be used for the treatment of the manifestations of osteoarthritis, including osteonecrosis of the femoral head, cartilage injury and rheumatoid arthritis (10). It has been demonstrated previously that PRP improves the repair of articular cartilage injury in patients with joint disease by removing harmful inflammation factors (11). It was also demonstrated that PRP reduces the level of inflammatory factor synovial fluid in rheumatoid arthritis without exhibiting side effects (12).…”

Development of Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma Mixed-Microfat as an Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product for Intra-Articular Injection of Radio-Carpal Osteoarthritis: From Validation Data to Preliminary Clinical Results

“…We previously described the safety profile of combining autologous microfat and PRP as a mixed regenerative product injected in the carpus or the fetlock joint of sport horses presenting with degenerative joint disease [ 25 ]. A significant lameness reduction, together with an early return to compete were also indicative of potential efficacy.…”