A single intra-articular injection of platelet-rich plasma showed better pain and function scores at 6 months than did weekly injections of hyaluronic acid in patients with hemophilic arthropathy of the knee.
“In patients with chronic knee joint pain, our study shows that treatment with intra-articular [platelet-rich plasma] injection could reduce pain, improve hyperaemia and enhance knee joint function,” wrote Tsung-Ying Li, MD, of Tri-Service General Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan, and his colleagues. The results of the comparison study were published in Haemophilia.
Researchers conducted a nonrandomized, single-center, open-label comparison study of 22 patients with hemophilia A who had chronic hemophilic arthropathy of the knee. Patients were stratified into two treatment groups using a matched sampling method.
“Patients who could commit to hyaluronic acid treatment were allocated to the hyaluronic acid group, otherwise patients were allocated to the platelet‐rich plasma group,” the researchers wrote.
Participants in the hyaluronic acid arm were given five sequential weekly injections and those in the platelet-rich plasma arm received only a single injection. Outcomes were measured via the visual analogue scale (VAS), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) Chinese Version, and ultrasonography to determine synovial change.
Pain and function scores were significantly lower in patients administered intra-articular platelet-rich plasma versus hyaluronic acid at 6 months (P less than .05), the researchers reported. However, comparative analysis found no significant differences at earlier follow-up time points.
“Both treatments were found to be effective in reducing pain and improving functional status of the knee,” the researchers wrote.
They acknowledged a key limitation of the study was the short duration of follow-up, which was due to budget restrictions at the treatment facility.
“Further investigation using rigorous research methodology is warranted to establish the benefit of [platelet-rich plasma] on hemophilic arthropathy and standardized [platelet-rich plasma] preparation and dosing regimens,” they wrote.
The study was supported by grant funding from Tri-Service General Hospital in Taiwan. Three of the authors reported receiving research grants from Shire.
SOURCE: Li TY et al. Haemophilia. 2019 Mar 13. doi: 10.1111/hae.13711.