Platelet-rich plasma injections for tendinopathy and osteoarthritis

Tendinopathy and osteoarthritis are common chronic musculoskeletal conditions that are associated with frequent pain and reduced function. With the advent of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP), new opportunities are available to elucidate potential healing mechanisms and elaborate safe injection therapies. PRP therapy involves the use of autologous activated platelets retained in fibrin matrices as a source of growth factors and cytokines that are active in healing mechanisms, such as inflammation, angiogenesis, cell migration and proliferation. Here we provide an overview of the main components of PRP products relevant to the mechanism of action in tendinopathy and osteoarthritis, and emphasize the importance of identifying and exploiting principal molecular components in PRP for therapeutic benefit. We review the clinical applications of PRP in osteoarthritis and tendinopathy and discuss the current existing challenges.