Reduce fibrosis - Reducing scarring - Autologous Platelets

Several clinical studies demonstrated that growth factor treatment accelerates healing of normal and impaired tissues. In early clinical studies, the treatment of nonhealing wounds with autologous platelets achieved 100% epithelization without harmful side effects or excessive scarring. Fifrosis and excessive scarring occur through enhanced collagen production which occurs, in turn, when the healing process is characterized by prolonged inflammation.

When treating wounds and ulcers with autologous platelets healing is fastened while the inflammation phase is shortened. This seems to be the rationale for the reduced scarring observed when treating large series of patients with autologous platelets.

There are several evidences, both in human and in animals, for reduce fibrosis and scarring when treating tissue lesions with platelet-derived factors.

In wounded horses, platelet gel therapy produced regenerative healing in the epidermis and dermis without fibrosis or scar formation.

In cosmetic surgery, autologous platelets were shown to accelerate the rate of tissue repair, improve the vascular bed of wounds, decrease dermal scarring, reduce swelling and pain post operatively.

Patients undergoing salvage surgery following chemotherapy-radiotherapy for mucosal cancers suffer from increased tissue fibrosis and higher complication rates. Studies performed at the Dept. of Otolaryngology, University of Western Ontario, demonstrated that the application of autologous platelet products neck dissections resulted in decreased postoperative drainage, length of stay in hospital, and neck skin fibrosis, increased skin visco-elasticity, and long-term quality of life.

Analogously, in total knee arthroplasty the incidence of arthro-fibrosis was significantly less in patients managed with platelet gel and fibrin sealant, also improving the range of motion and reducing the length of hospital stay.

In sports medicine, treating muscle injuries with autolous platelets achievement of full recovery of functional capabilities was restored as early as half of the expected recovery time; fibrosis did not appear in any of the treated cases, and no re-injuries occurred after resuming the normal athletic activities.

Also infracted heart areas seems to benefit from treatment with autologous platelets. Fibrosis of the infracted areas strongly impairs cardiac function. Platelet-derived growth factors and enzymes (PDGF, b-FGF, VEGF, heparanase) have been shown to stimulate angiogenesis. Angiogenesis prevents and reduces fibrosis and is a necessary step for myocardial regeneration. Autologous platelets are a promising adjunctive treatment to reduce the extent of ischemic myocardial damage.