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 Ι): including patients with KL grade < 3 and (Group ΙΙ): 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 Ι and group ΙΙ 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.