Autologous peripheral blood-derived orthobiologics: Different types and their effectiveness in managing knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Knees are the most commonly impacted weight-bearing joints in osteoarthritis (OA), affecting millions of people worldwide. With increasing life spans and obesity rates, the incidence of knee OA will further increase, leading to a significant increase in the economic burden. Conventional treatment modalities utilized to manage knee OA have limitations. Over the last decade, the role of various autologous peripheral blood-derived orthobiologics (APBOs) for the treatment of knee OA has been extensively investigated. This editorial provided an overview and focused on defining and shedding light on the current state of evidence based on the most recent published clinical studies concerning the use of APBO for the management of knee OA. While numerous studies have demonstrated promising results for these preparations, a notable gap exists in the comparative analysis of these diverse formulations. This absence of head-to-head studies poses a considerable challenge for physicians/surgeons in determining the optimal preparation for managing knee OA and achieving sustained long-term results. Thus, more adequately powered, multicenter, prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trials with longer follow-ups are needed to establish the long-term efficacy and to aid physicians/surgeons in determining the optimal APBO for the management of knee OA.

Keywords: Knee osteoarthritis; Platelet-rich plasma; Platelet lysate; Autologous conditioned serum; Gold-induced cytokine; Plasma rich in growth factors; Growth factor concentrate; Autologous protein solution; Platelet-rich fibrin; Hyperacute serum

Core Tip: This editorial briefly defined various autologous peripheral blood-derived orthobiologics (APBO) being explored and assessed their current state of evidence based on the most recently published clinical study for the management of knee osteoarthritis (OA). The present literature demonstrates the potential of these APBOs in reducing pain and improving function in knee OA patients; thus, they can be utilized in patients who are refractory to conservative treatment modalities. Yet, more adequately powered clinical trials with longer follow-up and comparative studies are required to establish the long-term efficacy and determine the most optimal APBO for the management of knee OA, respectively.