Effects and safety of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and hyaluronic acid (HA), alone and in combination, in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Abstract Background Studies have shown that the combined application of hyaluronic acid (HA) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can repair degenerated cartilage and delay the progression of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy and safety of PRP combined with HA in the treatment of KOA compared with intra-articular injection of PRP or HA alone. Methods The PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases were searched from inception to December 2019. Two orthopaedic surgeons conducted the literature retrieval and extracted the data. Outcome indicators include the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), the Lequesne Index, the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, and adverse events (AEs). Results Seven studies (5 randomized controlled trials, 2 cohort studies) with a total of 941 patients were included. In the VAS comparison after 6 months of follow-up, PRP combined with HA was more likely to reduce knee pain than PRP alone (standardized mean difference (SMD): -0.31; 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.55 to -0.06; P=0.01 <0.05). PRP combined with HA for KOA achieved better improvement in WOMAC Function Score (SMD: -0.32; 95% CI: -0.54 to -0.10) and WOMAC Total Score (SMD: -0.42; 95% CI: -0.67 to -0.17) at the 12-month follow-up than the application of PRP alone. In a comparison of Lequesne Index scores at a 6-month follow-up, PRP combined with HA improved knee pain scores more than PRP alone (SMD: -0.42; 95% CI: -0.67 to -0.17). In terms of AEs, PRP combined with HA was not significantly different from PRP or HA alone (P>0.05). Conclusions Compared with intra-articular injection of PRP alone, PRP combined with HA can improve WOMAC Function Scores, WOMAC Total Score, 6-month follow-up VAS ratings, and Lequesne Index scores. However, in terms of the incidence of AEs, PRP combined with HA was not significantly different from PRP or HA alone.