What are the differences between PRP Systems?

By Dr. Stephen Cosentino

What are the differences between PRP Systems?

Not all Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is Created Equal

Empire Medical has been offering our Platelet Rich Plasma Course for over (7) years and has seen firsthand the pitfalls in trying to incorporate these aesthetic and medical procedures into your practice. PRP works very well for patients with damaged skin, medical tendinopathies, and bone/joint regeneration if harvested and activated correctly. However, there are a large number of commercial products concerning PRP and it is often forgotten the medical requirements needed for platelet-rich plasma therapies to be effective. Many companies are trying to “cash-in” on the latest aesthetic craze and are coining different names in order to gain a marketing advantage – but at what cost? The reason why platelet-rich plasma therapies are not streamlined within medicine is that there is variability in preparation, handling and delivery of platelet-rich plasma either medically or in aesthetics. There are (2) FDA approved preparation methods to create the PRP solution which are either single spin or dual-spin technologies. The double centrifuge protocol yields a significantly higher concentration of platelets (3:1) and has other advantages. Total cells delivered (CD34+) using dual-spin technologies are considerably higher and is needed since CD34+ are markers for stem cells and will reside in the mononuclear fraction. In essence, there is not only a large concentration of stem cells but also stem cell markers when using dual-spin technologies. Other differences in evaluating the right “PRP Process” System for your practice should also include consistently reproducing results (predictability) and optimal concentration of platelets. Automation is also important to reduce variability between processes and ease of use. At the end of the day does it make sense to have billions of platelets or millions of platelets? The science is evidenced by the fact that hospitals and medical institutions use dual-spin units rather than the single spin units and so should yourself in your aesthetic or medical practice.

Whether it relates to the various platelet-derived growth factors (PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), or Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF-?) for differentiation, dual-spin units are superior to single spin units and in effective outcomes for your patients. In addition, various cytokines and other adhesion molecules (i.e. Stromal Derived Factor -1 Alpha (SDF-1?) within a concentrated formulation of platelets will allow for greater modulation and homing of stem cells to the repair site. So the next time or in the future when you evaluate different PRP process systems realize that science is there for you to review. Effective cellular therapy requires a scaffolding (matrix) for cell migration and proliferation as well as the signaling of cells to the repair site. Give yourself the best option in achieving optimal results and understand the benefits to these advanced isolation methods for PRP processing. Empire’s Platelet Rich Plasma course will explain these differences as well as others such as the presence or absence of white blood cells, reducing granulocyte cells, and the need for greater mononuclear (lymphocytes/monocytes) as part of the cascade of healing and regeneration.