Platelet-Rich Plasma Promotes Axon Regeneration, Wound Healing, and Pain Reduction: Fact or Fiction

Abstract

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been tested in vitro, in animal models, and clinically for its efficacy in enhancing the rate of wound healing, reducing pain associated with injuries, and promoting axon regeneration. Although extensive data indicate that PRP-released factors induce these effects, the claims are often weakened because many studies were not rigorous or controlled, the data were limited, and other studies yielded contrary results. Critical to assessing whether PRP is effective are the large number of variables in these studies, including the method of PRP preparation, which influences the composition of PRP; type of application; type of wounds; target tissues; and diverse animal models and clinical studies. All these variables raise the question of whether one can anticipate consistent influences and raise the possibility that most of the results are correct under the circumstances where PRP was tested. This review examines evidence on the potential influences of PRP and whether PRP-released factors could induce the reported influences and concludes that the preponderance of evidence suggests that PRP has the capacity to induce all the claimed influences, although this position cannot be definitively argued. Well-defined and rigorously controlled studies of the potential influences of PRP are required in which PRP is isolated and applied using consistent techniques, protocols, and models. Finally, it is concluded that, because of the purported benefits of PRP administration and the lack of adverse events, further animal and clinical studies should be performed to explore the potential influences of PRP.

Use of platelet‐rich plasma to facilitate wound healing

“…Trengove et al reported that the proinflammatory cytokines IL‐1, IL‐6, and TNF‐α were found in higher concentrations in wound fluid from non‐healing wounds compared with healing wounds . According to Kuffler, leukocytes in PRP contribute to the increased production of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL‐1β and TNF‐α, which increases inflammation . This proposition has weight as the use of PRP increases the concentration of growth factors locally.…”

Platelet-rich plasma in treating peripheral neuropathic pain. Preliminary report

“…Recently, biological therapy using PRP has been attracting more attention in the field of NP management (9)(10)(11)(12). There are several techniques of preparation of PRP and different anatomic areas and different fields of application such as maxillofacial therapies, dentistry, wound healing, cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, cosmetics, and for tendon, ligament or muscle injuries.…”

“…Thus, there is no current "effective" evidence-based scheme in treating NP. Recent in-vitro and animal research has demonstrated that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and/or stem cells therapy could play an important role in the treatment of neuropathic pain, examining the hypothesis that applying this cell-based therapy to the site at which the pain originates can trigger the complete cascade of events involved in tissue repair, leading thereby to the permanent elimination of peripheral neuropathic pain (9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18). Based on the knowledge that NP is associated with neuroinflammation and ectopic activity as previously pointed out, and understanding that PRP possesses remarkable anti-inflammatory properties and has the ability of promoting axonal tissue repair and regeneration, thus stopping the spontaneous electrical activity and ceasing hyperexcitability (thereby eliminating neuropathic pain), we have conducted a clinical study in which PRP was used as a therapeutic option for the treatment of peripheral NP.…”

Platelet-rich plasma for regeneration of neural feedback pathways around dental implants: a concise review and outlook on future possibilities

“…33 After the activation of platelets, a cocktail of growth factors with mitogenic and chemotactic characteristics are induced and released from the platelets' α-granules, an organelle critical for wound healing. Instead of the effect being limited by the use of a single growth factor, the multiple factors together mimic the complex situation of natural tissue repair and improve processes such as angiogenesis, inflammation and the immune response.…”