Decrease of serum biomarker of type II Collagen degradation (Coll2-1) by intra-articular injection of an autologous plasma-rich-platelet in patients with unilateral primary knee osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the effect of one dose of intra-articular injection of (PRP) in the knee joint on a specific osteoarthritis (OA) serum biomarker of cartilage degeneration, Collagen 2-1 (Coll2-1), over a short period of 3 months. The aim extended to clarify the effect of PRP on the functional status of the osteoarthritic knee joint. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sixty patients with primary unilateral knee OA were enrolled in this study. They were subdivided according to Kellgren-Lawrence grading scale (KL) into (Group I): including patients with KL grade < 3 and (Group II): including patients with KL grade ≥3. Patients were asked to complete the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) Score. PRP was prepared and injected immediately into the affected knee. Serum Coll2-1 (S.Coll2-1) concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit pre and 3 months after PRP injection. RESULTS Significant reduction in S.Coll2-1 concentration in primary knee OA patients; (p<0.001) and (p<0.05) in group I and group II respectively as well as significant improvements in WOMAC total and WOMAC sub-scores values were noted after single intra-articular PRP injection with maximal functional improvements were achieved after 3 months (p<0.001). Mild cases experienced favorable results with no remarkable adverse reactions were observed. CONCLUSION Reduction in specific OA biomarker S.Coll2-1 following intra-articular PRP injection emphasize that PRP could be a promising safe and tolerable effective therapeutic option which improves function from basal states in primary knee OA patients.