1. Investigación

Traditionally, canine degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (DLS) has been defined as a multifactorial syndrome characterized by lumbosacral pain triggered by the compression of the nerve rootlets of the cauda equina. There is still no consensus on the treatment of this condition, probably because there are a plethora of possible causes. In addition to compression, inflammation is a very important factor in the physiopathology of the disorder. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) consists of an increased concentration of autologous platelets suspended in a small amount of plasma. Platelets are a source of several growth factors. Growth factors were shown to help in wound healing and biological processes, such as chemotaxis, neovascularization and synthesis of extracellular matrix, and growth factors were used to improve soft tissue healing and bone regeneration. PRP also facilitates the restoration of the structural integrity of the affected anatomy. Fourteen dogs diagnosed with DLS were treated with three epidural injections of PRP on days 0, 15 and 45. All dogs showed clinical improvement 3 months after the initial treatment. Gait was also objectively assessed by means of the use of force platform analysis before and after treatment, showing significant improvement. The results show that PRP may provide a good alternative to other nonsurgical treatments, such as prednisolone epidural injection.

The role of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in promoting the healing of bone fractures has notyet been clearly stated. The aim of this prospective clinical study was to evaluate the effectiveness ofplasma rich in growth factors (PRGF, a PRP derivate) in the treatment of naturally-occurring bonefractures in dogs. With this objective, sixty-five dogs with radius/ulna or tibia/fibula bone fractureswere randomly divided into two groups (PRGF and saline solution (SS) groups) and checked atdays 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 60, 63, 70, 120, and 180. All the fractures were treated with anexternal skeletal fixation, and pain was controlled with Carprofen. Healing was evaluated by physicalexamination, limb function, radiography, and by a Likert-type owner satisfaction questionnaire.A faster fracture healing was observed in the PRGF group, with statistically significant differenceswith respect to the SS group. Swelling at the fracture site was significantly greater at day 14 and28 in animals injected with PRGF, and more pain on palpation was found in the area at day 28.The injection of PRGF in acute bone fractures accelerates bone healing.

A potential relationship between an increased risk of cancer and increased levels of serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and presence of cancer and high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) has been previously reported. This study evaluated the influence of a single intramuscular injection of plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) on serum concentrations of IGF-1 and CRP in dogs. Two groups of eight healthy beagles were injected with two different doses of PRGF in lumbar muscles. For each treatment, IGF-1 and CRP were analysed from blood samples obtained at baseline and the following three days post injection. No differences were found when IGF-1 and CRP were compared among times in the two protocols. Local application of PRGF at clinical doses did not cause significant changes in systemic concentrations of IGF-1 or detectable inflammation.

Tendon injuries are the most frequent musculoskeletal problems, constituting 30–50% of all sport-related lesions. Efficient handling of early stage tendon injury and healing can accelerate tendon repair as well as improve the quality of newly formed tendons. Plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) is an autologous biological therapy that has been proposed to treat tendon injuries. To elucidate the effect of this treatment on the early stage of tendon healing, 14 sheep were used to perform the present study. The right Achilles tendon was surgically severed and repaired with sutures. Seven animals were treated with PRGF and the other seven with saline solution after surgical tendon reconstruction. Tendons were ultrasound-guide infiltrated 1 week after the induced injury. Two weeks later, the sheep were euthanized and histochemical and immunohistochemical analyses were performed. The tendons with PRGF showed reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells compared to those treated with saline solution. Analysis of the blood vessels, morphometric data of fibroblast nuclei, and collagen fibres in the extracellular matrix did not show statistical differences between groups. These findings suggest the important role that PRGF therapy plays in the modulation of inflammatory response in Achilles tendon injuries, leading to acceleration of the tendon healing process, shortening the convalescence period.

The goal of this study was to objectively assess the effect of a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) derivate in English bulldogs with stifle degenerative joint disease secondary to cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR). We used a force platform and affixed electrogoniometers to measure peak vertical force (PVF), vertical impulse (VI), stance time (ST), and angular range of motion (AROM), from 12 lame client-owned English bulldogs with post-CCLR stifle joint abnormalities. The 12 affected subjects were treated with 4 intra-articular injections of PRP, at 30-day intervals. Ten untreated, sound English bulldogs were used as a reference group. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using a linear mixed effects model. Mean values of PVF, VI, ST, and AROM were improved within the first 3 months post-treatment in the CCLR group, with mean measured changes increasing to maximum 4.56% body weight gain, 1.5% body weight/second, 0.07 seconds, and 6.18 degrees, respectively. The effects declined progressively after the treatment interval, ending at nearly initial levels after 6 months. This study demonstrates that dogs with CCLR treated with intra-articular PRP had improved PVF, VI, ST, and AROM over time; the duration of effect was waning by the end of the post-treatment period.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of disability in elderly population around the world. More than one-third of people over 65 years old shows either clinical or radiological evidence of OA. There is no effective treatment for this degenerative disease, due to the limited capacity for spontaneous cartilage regeneration. Regarding the use of regenerative therapies, it has been reported that one option to restore degenerated cartilage are adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs). The purpose of this review is to describe and compare the efficacy of ASCs versus other therapies in OA. Methods: Recent studies have shown that ASCs exert paracrine effects protecting against degenerative changes in chondrocytes. According to the above, we have carried out a review of the literature using a combination of osteoarthritis, stem cells, and regenerative therapies as keywords. Results: Conventional pharmacological therapies for OA treatment are considered before the surgical option, however, they do not stop the progression of the disease. Moreover, total joint replacement is not recommended for patients under 55 years, and high tibia osteotomy (HTO) is a viable solution to address lower limb malalignment with concomitant OA, but some complications have been described. In recent years, the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a treatment strategy for OA is increasing considerably, thanks to their capacity to improve symptoms together with joint functionality and, therefore, the patients’ quality of life. Conclusions: ASC therapy has a positive effect on patients with OA, although there is limited evidence and little long-term follow-up.

Low invasiveness is the main goal of modern surgery. The use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is known to be effective in a variety of applications, such as oral, maxillofacial, orthopedic, dermatologic and cosmetic surgeries. However, a potential ergogenic and carcinogenic effect of PRP derivatives by means of the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) pathway has been suggested. Because of this notion, the purpose of this study is to assess the effect of a commercially available PRP-derivative intramuscular injection in the lumbar muscular tissue (local effect) and to determine the IGF-1 blood concentration (systemic effect) on healthy beagle dogs. Local effect was evaluated by computed tomography (CT) scan and echography, and systemic effect was calculated by blood testing on days 0, 14, 28, 42 and 56. No statistically significant changes were observed; thus, PRGF could be considered safe when using therapeutic doses.

Background: The use of Plasma Rich in Growth Factors (PRGF) and Adipose Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (ASCs) are today extensively studied in the field of regenerative medicine. In recent years, human and veterinary medicine prefer to avoid using traumatic techniques and choose low or non-invasive procedures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of PRGF, ASCs and the combination of both in wound healing of full-thickness skin defects in rabbits. With this purpose, a total of 144 rabbits were used for this study. The animals were divided in three study groups of 48 rabbits each depending on the administered treatment: PRGF, ASCs, and PGRF+ASCs. Two wounds of 8 mm of diameter and separated from each other by 20 mm were created on the back of each rabbit: the first was treated with saline solution, and the second with the treatment assigned for each group. Macroscopic and microscopic evolution of wounds was assessed at 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 10 days post-surgery. With this aim, 8 animals from each treatment group and at each study time were euthanized to collect wounds for histopathological study. Results: Wounds treated with PRGF, ASCs and PRGF+ASCs showed significant higher wound healing and epithelialization rates, more natural aesthetic appearance, significant lower inflammatory response, significant higher collagen deposition and angiogenesis compared with control wounds. The combined treatment PRGF +ASCs showed a significant faster cutaneous wound healing process. Conclusions: The combined treatment PRGF+ASCs showed the best results, suggesting this is the best choice to enhance wound healing and improve aesthetic results in acute wounds.