Three years in the making: AAPM&R’ guidance on PRP for knee OA.
A few key takeaways:
-Best supported for mild to moderate knee OA with persistent symptoms after conservative care
-Earlier treatment may do better
-LP-PRP and LR-PRP are both reasonable; superiority remains inconclusive
-Dose matters: target platelet dose of at least 10 billion
-Technique matters: ultrasound guidance, minimize RBCs, aspirate effusion when present
-For select severe OA cases with MRI-confirmed subchondral bone involvement, intraosseous PRP may also be considered
Most important: this paper emphasizes patient selection, informed consent, and realistic expectations. PRP may help pain and function, but patients should not expect cartilage regeneration.
Link:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/pmrj.70144
*Disclosure: Since joining this committee in the fall of 2022, and writing this paper, Dr Latzka has become a consulting clinical advisor for Emcyte, with no ownership or stock in the company.