Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the major cause of chronic pain in dogs. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a concentrate of growth and differentiation factors from the blood, which can be used in Regenerative Medicine strategies.
Aim: The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of allogenic PRP on the treatment of canine osteoarthritis.
Methods: Five dogs from several breeds, between 6 and 12 years old and from both genders were studied. Clinical and imagiological exams diagnosed OA in the knee, tibiotarsi, elbow and intercarpal joints. These dogs were refractory to medical therapy and to physical rehabilitation protocols that included shockwave therapy, LASER therapy, electrostimulation and hydrotherapy and diathermy.
Animals were treated with allogenic PRP obtained from the blood of the five dogs which was processed in a pool. Ecoguided intraarticular PRP injection was performed under sedation and after aseptic field preparation. Lameness at walk and trot (5 levels) and pain (5 levels) were evaluated before treatment and 30, 60 and 90 days post-treatment.
Results: All animals presented improvements at 30 and 60 days in both parameters. Four dogs showed decrease of three levels of lameness after 90 days and complete absence was shown in two. Pain was reduced from severe and moderate to mild in all dogs after 30 days and, among them, three revealed no pain after 90 days.
Conclusion: This study sheds light on the applicability and safety of single administration of allogenic PRP in osteoarthritic dogs.
Key words: Dog, Osteoarthritis, Lameness, Pain, Platelet-rich plasma.
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