A Critical Overview of the Use of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Equine Medicine Over the Last Decade.
Authors: Camargo Garbin Livia, Lopez Catalina, Carmona Jorge U
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Platelet-Rich Plasma in Equine Medicine Over the past decade, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has become increasingly popular in equine practice as a putatively disease-modifying therapy, yet significant standardisation challenges undermine direct comparison of clinical evidence and limit confidence in outcomes. This critical overview examined over ten years of PRP research in equine medicine, analysing both in vitro protocol optimisation studies and in vivo clinical investigations across different tissues and conditions. Despite extensive research efforts, the field remains hampered by inconsistent preparation methods, inadequate reporting of cellular and cytokine concentrations, and poorly designed clinical trials—meaning robust evidence for PRP's therapeutic efficacy remains elusive. Individual variation in animal health status, tissue type, condition treated, and preparation protocol all influence the final composition and thus presumably the clinical effect, yet this inherent biological variability is rarely controlled for in published work. For practitioners considering PRP as part of their treatment strategy, the takeaway is clear: whilst the biological rationale is sound and some studies show promise, meaningful standardisation of protocols and rigorous comparative trials are essential before claims about clinical superiority can be confidently made, and current product selection should reflect an understanding that compositional consistency—and therefore efficacy—remains variable.
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Practical Takeaways
- •PRP products vary significantly in composition depending on preparation method and the individual horse's health status—standardization is needed before claiming equivalent clinical outcomes between different protocols
- •Current evidence does not definitively support PRP as a disease-modifying treatment; use should be considered experimental and documented carefully in your practice
- •When considering PRP, demand detailed product composition data (cell and cytokine counts) from suppliers, as this directly affects therapeutic potential but is often incompletely reported
Key Findings
- •PRP preparation methods lack standardization across clinical protocols and commercial kits, making direct comparison between studies challenging
- •Individual variability in animal health status, tissue type, and treatment protocol significantly influence PRP cellular concentration and cytokine composition
- •Despite numerous studies over the past decade, lack of qualitative and quantitative evidence-based data persists to support PRP's clinical efficacy in equine medicine
- •In vitro and in vivo studies have focused on protocol optimization and anti-inflammatory cytokine enhancement, but incomplete reporting of PRP composition undermines clinical reliability