Archives of Plastic Surgery  2013;40(5):530-535

doi:10.5999/aps.2013.40.5.530

Platelet-Rich Plasma: Quantitative Assessment of Growth Factor Levels and Comparative Analysis of Activated and Inactivated Groups.

Jeong Woo LEE 1 ; O Hyun KWON ; Taek Kyun KIM ; Young Kyoo CHO ; Kang Young CHOI ; Ho Yun CHUNG ; Byung Chae CHO ; Jung Dug YANG ; Jun Ho SHIN

Affiliations

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Keywords

Platelet-rich plasma; Platelet count; Platelet-derived growth factor; Transforming growth factors

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has more concentrated platelets than normal plasma (approximately 150-400x10(3) cell/dL). Platelets excrete several growth factors and cytokines that are associated with the healing and regeneration process. However, even though PRP is widely used, the mechanism or actual effect is presently unclear. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the levels of growth factors and platelet concentration rate. METHODS: Autologous blood for preparing PRP was obtained from healthy subjects aged 25 to 35 years. The samples were divided into 4 experimental groups (inactivated whole blood, inactivated PRP, activated whole blood with thrombin and calcium chloride, and activated PRP). The platelet counts in the blood were analyzed and the growth factors were quantitatively measured. A statistical analysis was performed by using Dunn's multiple comparison test. RESULTS: In the blood cell analysis, the platelet count of the PRP group was approximately 4.25 times higher than that of the whole blood group. In the quantitative analysis of growth factors, the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-AB, PDGF-BB, and transforming growth factor-beta of the inactivated and activated PRP groups were higher than those of the inactivated and activated whole blood groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the platelet count and the levels of PDGF-AB and PDGF-BB in the PRP were determined. Further, more research is required on the bioactivity level of the growth factors secreted during the process of PRP preparation and the potency of growth factors that can be exerted physiologically in vivo.