Purpose: The objective was to provide preliminary information about the efficacy and safety of immunologically safe plasma rich in growth factor (immunosafe PRGF) eye drops in the treatment of moderate to severe dry eye in patients with primary and secondary Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) and to analyze the influence of several variables on treatment outcomes.
Methods: This retrospective study included patients with SS. All patients were treated with previously immunosafe PRGF eye drops to reduce the immunologic component contents. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scale, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), visual analog scale (VAS) frequency, and VAS severity outcome measures were evaluated before and after treatment with immunosafe PRGF. The potential influence of some patient clinical variables on results was also assessed. Safety assessment was also performed reporting all adverse events.
Results: Twenty-six patients (12 patients with primary SS, and 14 patients suffering secondary SS) with a total of 52 affected eyes were included and evaluated. Immunosafe PRGF treatment showed a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in OSDI scale (41.86%), in BCVA (62.97%), in VAS frequency (34.75%), and in VAS severity (41.50%). BCVA and VAS frequency scores improved significantly (P < 0.05) after concomitant treatment of PRGF with corticosteroids. Only 2 adverse events were reported in 2 patients (7.7% of patients).
Conclusions: Signs and symptoms of dry eye syndrome in patients with SS were reduced after treatment with PRGF-Endoret eye drops. Immunosafe PRGF-Endoret is safe and effective for treating patients with primary and secondary SS.
PRP: review of the current evidence for musculoskeletal
conditions
Gerard A. Malanga • Michael Goldin
Published online: 25 January 2014
Springer Science + Business Media New York 2014
Abstract Injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an
evolving treatment option for various musculoskeletal
injuries. There is basic scientific evidence that suggests that
the various growth factors present in PRP can help to
augment the body’s natural healing. There are also clinical
studies suggesting efficacy for several conditions, particu-
larly tendinopathy and osteoarthritis. This article reviews
the definition and first uses of PRP, the basic scientific
rationale for its use, and the basic science and evidence for
its use in the treatment of tendon, joint, ligament, and
muscle injuries. There are varying levels of evidence for
and against the use of PRP for these types of injuries, and
this article reviews studies that support as well as studies
that refute the use of this new treatment. There are several
studies that have assessed the basic science supportive of
PRP treatments, as well as the clinical efficacy of this
treatment in vivo. While the current evidence is mixed,
several recent studies have demonstrated therapeutic ben-
efit in the treatment of various tendinopathies and degen-
erative joint diseases of the knee. There are several factors
that need to be addressed to elucidate whether PRP is truly
effective. These include fully defining the PRP mixture
(e.g. concentration, growth factor levels, presence of white
cells and red cells, etc.), determining the optimal prepara-
tion and delivery of the PRP graft, calculating the appropriate number of injections for each specific patho-
logic process, and defining optimal post-procedure
