Stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are two invaluable regenerative medicine tools that utilize natural cells to expedite and improve healing. Both therapies have their place in veterinary medicine however when stem cell therapy and PRP are used together, the two therapies complement each other to create a synergistic effect that enhances the overall healing process.

Stem cells and PRP share similar mechanisms of action such as the ability to reduce pain and inflammation and stimulate wound healing. Stem cells, however, are unique in their ability to differentiate into various types of cells including cartilage, bone, muscle, and more, allowing them to respond to specific tissue and injury needs. This regenerative approach is especially beneficial for conditions like osteoarthritis and tendon and ligament injuries where healing through traditional methods can be slow or incomplete.

PRP therapy, on the other hand, uses concentrated platelets to enhance healing. Platelets are rich in growth factors and cytokines that play a key role in tissue repair. When injected into an injury site, platelets release their growth factors and cytokines to reduce inflammation and attract stem cells and other healing cells to assist in the tissue repair process.

When used together, stem cell therapy and PRP work synergistically to amplify the healing properties of each. In multiple studies across several disease processes and injuries, the combination of stem cells and PRP proved to be more effective than the individual therapies alone. Stem cells provide the building blocks for new tissue formation, while PRP delivers the necessary growth factors and cytokines to optimize the regenerative environment. This combined approach not only accelerates healing but can also improve the long-term outcomes for pets suffering from chronic or acute injuries. By leveraging the strengths of both therapies, veterinarians can offer a more comprehensive and effective treatment plan, helping pets return to their normal activities faster and with less pain.

VetStem recently launched two FDA-reviewed platelet-rich plasma (PRP) products: PrecisePRP™ Canine and PrecisePRP™ Equine. PrecisePRP™ is a freeze-dried off-the-shelf PRP unlike any platelet-rich plasma currently on the market. The primary benefits of PrecisePRP™ include ease of use and consistency. With PrecisePRP, you no longer have to draw blood and process it to obtain the PRP. You simply reconstitute and inject. Additionally, PrecisePRP™ provides a consistent dose of PRP so you know exactly what you’re injecting every single time.

After a few months on the market, numerous veterinarians have begun to routinely incorporate PrecisePRP™ into their practice. We recently spoke with board-certified veterinary surgeon and long-time regenerative medicine provider, Dr. Jeff Christiansen, to learn about his use of platelet-rich plasma and to hear his thoughts after using PrecisePRP™. Below, you will find a brief Q&A followed by a link to the video interview, which goes into more depth.

What are the most common injuries/conditions you treat with PRP?

I use PRP primarily in conjunction with surgeries and/or in combination with stem cell therapy. I most commonly use it for cruciate injuries, either with stem cell therapy and/or with surgery (TTA vs. extracapsular). I also use it with medial patellar luxation +/- stem cell therapy. I have used it in cases of hip dysplasia in combination with stem cell therapy. Other arthropathies I have used PRP for include elbow, shoulder, carpus and, less commonly, tarsus. I frequently use PRP with fracture repairs, with both long bone and joint fractures. I also use it for tendon/ligament injuries, such as common calcaneal/Achilles, collateral, etc. And lastly, any reconstructive surgery, tumor removal, resection of inflamed/infected tissue, etc.

What do you like most about PrecisePRP compared to previous PRP kits you have used?

PrecisePRP requires less work and time. Certainly, PrecisePRP does not require a clean blood draw, which is harder in some small patients, nor is there the risk of the sample clotting and wasting/losing a whole kit. When you take a centrifuge out of the equation, you don’t have to worry about matching/balancing/spinning or technical challenges with the filtration kits. PrecisePRP is also nice with a small or an anemic patient so you don’t have to take their blood.

How do you select patients for PRP?

I recommend PRP in all of the cases listed in #1. For ortho cases, a lot of owners find stem cell therapy cost prohibitive, but they want to do something to help accelerate healing and minimize arthritis, so they do PRP.

 

Click the image below to watch the full interview where Dr. Christiansen goes into depth about his use of PRP and why he likes PrecisePRP!

This week, we are debuting our latest product, PrecisePRP™, at the Fetch DVM360 veterinary conference in Kansas City, MO. This is our first conference since we launched the product, and we are very excited to get in front of veterinarians and technicians to explain what a game-changer PrecisePRP™ is for the industry!

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is defined as concentrated platelets in plasma. It is a therapeutic regenerative medicine modality that is commonly used to treat joint disease, such as osteoarthritis, as well as soft tissue injuries (tendon, ligament), and wounds. Unfortunately, there are several variables that can affect the concentration of platelets used for treatment, which can then affect the treatment outcome.  

How is PRP Produced?

Platelet-rich plasma is most frequently produced in the veterinary clinic using a pet’s own blood. The blood is drawn from the patient then filtered or centrifuged using a mechanical PRP kit. There are several mechanical PRP kits on the market currently, each of which requires a unique processing method. Once the blood is run through the kit, the end result is PRP, which is then injected directly into the problem area (i.e., joint, tendon lesion, wound, etc.).

Disadvantages of Mechanical PRP Kits

There are several disadvantages that come with producing PRP using a mechanical kit. Perhaps the most significant of these is the variability of the final PRP used to treat the patient. Numerous factors can affect the final platelet concentration such as the current health of the patient, platelet count of the patient, operator handling of the sample, and the effectiveness of the kit used to produce the PRP. Ultimately, if the PRP doesn’t contain what is considered a therapeutic dose of concentrated platelets, the patient likely won’t experience much relief.

This variability was made apparent when, in researching PRP kits, we performed a comparison of four PRP kits for the production of equine PRP. Each kit demonstrated a lack of uniformity relating to the final platelet count and platelet concentration. Moreover, each kit failed to meet their respective platelet concentration claim.

Consistency with PrecisePRP™

We didn’t feel comfortable selling PRP kits that would potentially lead to poor treatment outcomes. So instead, we invented PrecisePRP™, a freeze-dried donor-derived platelet-rich plasma currently available in a dog and horse format. PrecisePRP™ Canine and PrecisePRP™ Equine do not require processing to produce PRP, instead your veterinarian will simply rehydrate and inject.

Each vial of PrecisePRP™ undergoes rigorous quality testing to meet precise product release specifications. This results in a uniform and consistent PRP product, eliminating the variability mentioned above so that veterinarians know exactly what they’re injecting every single time. PrecisePRP™ donors are screened according to FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine guidance and in controlled safety studies of dogs and horses, there were no notable adverse events related to treatment with PrecisePRP™.

Veterinarians interested in purchasing PrecisePRP™ should contact Customer Service.