Efficacy and Safety of Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections for the Treatment of Female Sexual Dysfunction and Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Systematic Review

Prevalence, Diagnosis, and Management of Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women: A Collaborative Review

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI), defined as any involuntary leakage of urine associated with physical activity, remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. This review aims to provide an updated overview of the prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment of SUI in women, drawing upon recent evidence-based literature and clinical guidelines.

METHODS

A systematic search of the MEDLINE database was conducted to identify only the most up-to-date and relevant studies published up to February 26, 2024, including the reference ESTER systematic review. The search was limited to systematic reviews published in the preceding 1 yr. Any additional included publications were limited to those published or referenced as part of the existing/current guidelines.

KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS

Diagnosis of SUI involves a comprehensive assessment, including medical history, physical examination, and in some cases, invasive urodynamics. Pelvic floor muscle training emerges as a first-line management strategy, showing efficacy in symptom improvement when good educational instructions and supervision are provided. Surgical interventions with midurethral and single-incision slings offer a second-line option, although concerns regarding mesh-related complications persist with a decrease in its use. Moreover, the long-term efficacy of single-incision slings remains to be confirmed. Urethral bulking agents, colposuspension, and autologous fascial slings are existing alternatives supported by robust evidence, albeit with a different adverse event profile. Management of complicated and severe SUI remains challenging, with autologous fascial sling and artificial urinary sphincters being established treatments, but high-quality data remain lacking.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Heightened awareness and accessibility to SUI treatment are imperative to address the gap between prevalence and medical care-seeking behavior. Pelvic floor muscle training and surgical interventions represent key modalities. However, a notable escalation in invasiveness and complication rates when transitioning to surgical interventions is clear and has resulted in a hesitance among patients to proceed along the treatment continuum, particularly in light of mesh-related complications. Ongoing research is necessary to optimize outcomes and ensure patient safety, particularly for complicated SUI where data on comparative effectiveness remain limited.

Platelet-rich plasma for treatment of female stress urinary incontinence

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) poses a significant burden on affected individuals, impairing their quality of life and causing embarrassment due to involuntary urine leakage during activities such as sneezing or coughing. While conservative and surgical treatments exist, a subset of patients experiences persistent symptoms despite these interventions. This review provides insights into the potential role of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as a therapeutic adjunct for patients with SUI that does not respond to conventional non-surgical or surgical treatments.

METHODS

We conducted a literature review of studies in English to evaluate PRP efficacy in managing SUI.

RESULTS

The studies conducted on PRP therapy suggest that it is an effective and safe treatment option for SUI in women. PRP injections, when used alone or in combination with other therapies, have shown significant improvements in SUI symptoms. Moreover, these studies indicate that PRP injections offer a less invasive and low-risk alternative to surgical procedures for managing SUI, which could lead to shorter recovery times.

CONCLUSION

The efficacy of PRP therapy is evidenced by significant reductions in SUI symptoms, as well as improvements in bladder function variables, without significant adverse effects reported. However, further research is necessary to establish the long-term effectiveness and safety of PRP therapy for managing SUI in diverse patient populations. Additionally, ongoing evaluations of PRP therapy in combination with other interventions will be essential for optimizing treatment outcomes and broadening the potential applications of PRP in the management of SUI.

How Intravesical Platelet-Rich Plasma Can Help Patients with Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome: A Comprehensive Scoping Review

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a condition characterized by chronic inflammation that affects the bladder. The study was aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of intravesical platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in patients with IC/BPS.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive search strategy to involve studies that investigate the efficacy of intravesical PRP injections or instillations over different time intervals. Various outcome measures were assessed, including pain scores, functional outcomes, urodynamic parameters, and surface expressions on the urothelium.

RESULTS

Our search strategy revealed 1,125 studies. After screening, ten articles met the inclusion criteria. Intravesical PRP significantly reduced the visual analog scale (VAS) compared with baseline scores. Several clinical trials reported significant improvements in the global response rate (GRA), O'Leary-Sant Symptom (OSS) questionnaire, Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index (ICSI), and Interstitial Cystitis Problem Index (ICPI). Urodynamic parameters such as maximum flow rate (Qmax) and post-voiding residual (PVR) showed significant improvements in some studies.

CONCLUSION

The study concluded that intravesical PRP injections could be a promising effective treatment option for IC/BPS patients by their significant ability to reduce pain. However, improvement of urodynamic and functional outcomes is still not clear. Further large comparative trials are still warranted to assess the efficacy of PRP instillation.

Use of platelet rich plasma for skin rejuvenation

OBJECTIVE

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is recognized as a safe and effective therapy for regenerative skin healing and rejuvenation, utilizing autologous blood enriched with various growth factors. This review aims to assess the efficacy of PRP treatments for skin rejuvenation.

METHODS

Keywords such as "platelet-rich plasma," "rejuvenation," "skin aging," and "wrinkles" were queried on Ovid, PubMed, and MEDLINE to identify pertinent studies on PRP treatment for skin rejuvenation.

RESULTS

Analysis revealed that PRP treatment led to significant enhancements in multiple facial parameters after one to three sessions. Improvements were noted in skin pore size, texture, wrinkle reduction, pigmented spots, collagen density, hyaluronic acid levels, and protection against ultraviolet damage. Combining PRP with hyaluronic acid demonstrated a synergistic effect, particularly enhancing skin elasticity in patients with lower body mass index and firmness in individuals aged 50s and 60s. Incorporating both physical and biometric data for assessment proved superior to relying solely on physical observations for evaluating subtle skin quality and structural changes.

CONCLUSION

This study underscores the efficacy of PRP monotherapy for skin rejuvenation and emphasizes the necessity of standardizing PRP preparation protocols in future investigations. Heightened awareness and advancements in technology have contributed to the emergence of higher-quality, less biased studies supporting PRP as a reliable and safe therapeutic option for skin rejuvenation.

Effects of Adding Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) to Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) among Patients with Rotator Cuff Partial Tear: A Prospective Randomized Comparative Study

A rotator cuff tear is a prevalent ailment affecting the shoulder joint. The clinical efficacy of combined therapy remains uncertain for partial rotator cuff tears. In this study, we integrated extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection, juxtaposed with PRP in isolation. Both cohorts exhibited significant improvements in visual analogue scale (VAS), Constant-Murley score (CMS), degrees of forward flexion, abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation, and the sum of range of motion (SROM) over the six-month assessment period. The application of ESWT in conjunction with PRP exhibited notable additional enhancements in both forward flexion (p = 0.033) and abduction (p = 0.015) after one month. Furthermore, a substantial augmentation in the range of shoulder motion (SROM) (p < 0.001) was observed after six months. We employed isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) to analyze the differential plasma protein expression in serum samples procured from the two groups after one month. The concentrations of S100A8 (p = 0.042) and S100A9 (p = 0.034), known to modulate local inflammation, were both lower in the ESWT + PRP cohort. These findings not only underscore the advantages of combined therapy but also illuminate the associated molecular changes.