PRPr injection effective treatment option for Discogenic Low Back Pain

Tsu, Japan: The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2017 (GBD 2017) conducted in 195 countries for 354 medical conditions reported that low back pain (LBP) was the leading cause of worldwide productivity loss and disability, with enormous socioeconomic and health impacts. Clinical application of platelet-rich plasma is gaining popularity in treating low back pain (LBP). Koji Akeda et al conducted a study investigated the efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma releasate (PRPr) injection into degenerated discs of patients with discogenic LBP.

A randomized, double-blind, active-controlled clinical trial was conducted.

Randomization of study patients in either the PRPr or the CS group on a 1:1 bias was performed in the institutional clinical research center.

Sixteen patients with discogenic LBP received an intradiscal injection of either autologous PRPr or corticosteroid (CS). Patients in both groups who wished to have PRPr treatment received an optional injection of PRPr eight weeks later.

The primary outcome was change in VAS from baseline at eight weeks. Secondary outcomes were pain, disability, quality of life (QOL), image analyses of disc degeneration, and safety for up to 60 weeks.

Results:

• The VAS change at eight weeks did not significantly differ between the two groups.

• Fifteen patients received the optional injection.

• Compared to the CS group, the PRPr group had a significantly improved disability score at 26 weeks and walking ability scores at four and eight weeks. Radiographic disc height and MRI grading score were unchanged from baseline.

• PRPr caused no clinically important adverse events.

• PRPr injection showed clinically significant improvements in LBP intensity equal to that of CS.

• PRPr treatment relieved pain, and improved disability and QOL during 60 weeks of observation.

Keywords: intervertebral disc degeneration; platelet-rich plasma; corticosteroid; low back pain

Further reading:

Platelet-Rich Plasma Releasate versus Corticosteroid for the Treatment of Discogenic Low Back Pain: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Koji Akeda, Kohshi Ohishi, Norihiko Takegami, Takao Sudo, Junichi Yamada, Tatsuhiko Fujiwara, Rui Niimi, Takeshi Matsumoto, Yuki Nishimura, Toru Ogura, Satoshi Tamaru and Akihiro Sudo.

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11, 304.

https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11020304