platelet-rich plasma (Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa)

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous biologic therapy derived from a patient's own blood through centrifugation, which concentrates platelets and their associated growth factors. In a randomized controlled trial conducted by **Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa**, PRP was investigated for the treatment of mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis. The therapy was prepared using a single centrifugation process (830g for 4 minutes) with a kit from T-Biotechnology Laboratory, resulting in a 3.4-fold increase in platelet concentration. The biological mechanism of PRP involves the release of growth factors—such as PDGF, TGF-beta, and VEGF—that theoretically promote cartilage repair and modulate intra-articular inflammation. However, the trial results published in 2024 indicated that PRP injections did not provide superior pain relief at 24 weeks compared to supervised exercise alone, and exercise alone was found to be clinically superior for functional and quality-of-life outcomes.

Other names

PRPautologous platelet-rich plasma