XERTHRA™ PRP KIT
Xerthra™ PRP kit is a new generation, high-performance platelet (PLT) separation device, dedicated to preparation of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from patient’s blood. Large number of growth factors released from PLTs delivered by PRP leads to improvement of regenerative properties of patient’s cells and tissues.
Xerthra™ kit consists of a highly efficient separation device, which due to its unique construction allows to separate and isolate the very high number of PLTs for the final injection. Thus, the final blood-derived product acquired with Xerthra™ PRP kit is characterized by PLTs concentration way above 1 000 000 PLT/µl which constitutes as a threshold of a therapeutical effectiveness for PRP. This is due to ability of Xerthra™ separation device to concentrate PLTs in up to 9.7 times more than in patients peripheral blood1.
High number of platelets delivered by PRP obtained with Xerthra™ secrete great number of growth factors that in turn will lead to recovery of the homeostasis at the injection site, and further initiation of regeneration and repair processes2,3.
Prolonged overload or trauma negatively affect the homeostasis of musculoskeletal tissues like cartilage, synovium, bone or tendon, shifting it towards aggravation of catabolic state, in turn related with intense production of tissue degradation enzymes, increased oxidative stress, enhanced inflammation and finally elevated damage1,2. However, scientific and clinical data show that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy can be a respectful treatment for joint or tendon deterioration and pathology3,4. PLTs are the key functional component of the PRP as they release a wide range of bioactive proteins with multiple biological functions.
Due to this PLTs are able to greatly regulate musculoskeletal tissues homeostasis. Interestingly, alongside PLTs, leukocytes are also isolated and used within PRP solution which secrete factors with wide range of biological function5. Thus leukocytes by secretion of growth factors and specific cytokines are able to control processes like phagocytosis and immunomodulation6,7.
Xerthra™ kit contains a highly efficient separation device, which due to its unique design and construction allows to separate and isolate a very high number of PLTs in the final injection product.
Xerthra™ separation device is made of Makrolon® polycarbonate that maximize the recovery rate of both platelets and growth factors. This effect is provided due to a very low surface energy of Makrolon® polymer which prevent binding of the proteins and cells to the walls of the device, resulting in maximal number of PLTs in final injection product.
As a result, the blood-derived product acquired by Xerthra™ PRP separation device delivers PLTs concentration way above the threshold of a therapeutical effectiveness for PRP stated by PRP definition on 1 000 000 PLT/µl. This is due to ability of Xerthra™ separation device to concentrate PLTs up to 9.7 times than in patients peripheral blood8. Such high effectiveness delivers 3, 2 or 1 mL of highly concentrated PRP from 13.5 mL of patient’s peripheral blood.
The main advantages of PRP obtained by Xerthra™ is its safety as well as simple preparation and administration methods. Moreover, due to the product autologous characteristics, no unintentional immune response will be triggered after the injection9 and no donor-recipient disease transmission is possible.
Package of Xerthra™ PRP kit contains:
- Xerthra™ separation device (1 pc)
- Butterfly needle, 21G (1 pc)
- Needle, 21G (3 pcs)
- Needle, 27G (1 pc)
- Single use syringe, 20 mL (1 pc)
- Single use syringe (with Luer-lock), 10 mL (1 pc)
- Single use syringe (with Luer-lock), 5 mL (1 pc)
- Single use syringe, 2 mL (1 pc)
Recent clinical data show that PPR administration can be clinically more effective when administered at least two times with 7 days intervals, what can bring up to 12 months clinical effectiveness10,11.
The product is meant to be used by medical practitioners only.
Therapeutic rational of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for joint and tendon associated injuries
PRP is a concentrated and isolated fraction of the peripheral blood, which contains very high amount of platelets (PLTs), over 1 000 000 PLT/µl. However, PRP may contain other blood components, such as leukocytes and fibrin protein1. Growth factors released by the PLTs, as a natural signaling molecules for the cells and tissues, provide the necessary molecular information at the injury and damage site.
Up to date, more than 300 biologically active molecules were identified in the platelet secretome2. Among all, the signaling proteins like growth factors are closely linked with the beneficial effects of the PRP therapy – including platelet derived growth factors (PDGF), transforming growth factor β1 (TGF- β1), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)3 and many more.
One of the crucial effects of PLT-derived growth factors in general can be described as anti-inflammatory when applied into the OA-affected joint or into the tendon affected by tendinopathy. This anti-inflammatory effect lays mainly in the ability of PRP to inhibit the production of strong proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and IL-84.
Foremost, PRP with high concentration of PLTs and thus loads of different growth factors were described as potent modulator of cell metabolism in OA-affected joint or in tendinopathy. Growth factors secreted by the PLTs can positively affect the production and secretion of tissue extracellular matrix (ECM) components like ACAN, COL1A1, COL2A1, COL3A1 and HA. As this leads to induced biosynthesis of ECM components like aggrecan, type II collagen and hyaluronic acid (associated with joint cartilage tissue5); as also type I and III collagen (associated with tendon tissue6), PRP will contribute significantly to increase of regeneration processes of both articular cartilage and tendon.
Furthermore, the effect of PRP treatment includes also the induction of specific tissue cell proliferation, which is a major process in tissue healing. Data show that PRP-derived growth factors are able to induce the migration and proliferation of tendon or cartilage progenitor cells7,8.
Finally, all of these processes induced by PRP, when combined, will substantially restore the proper homeostasis balance in OA-affected join and in tendinopathy, thus contributing to tissue regeneration and reduction of degradation processes.
All the mentioned effects makes the PRP injections a highly recommendable therapy for tendon and joint associated pathologies. Based on significant meta-analysis, the PRP treatment has been estimated as a therapeutically effective against tendinopathy9 and osteoarthritis10. Clinical studies describe that intra-articular PRP administration has clinical effectiveness, characterized with pain alleviation from 8 weeks11 after the injection, which lasts up to 12 months12.
PRP vs Corticosteroids
PRP treatment was proven to be clinically efficient and safe, based on the reports which pointed out the lack of adverse events related to the therapy, in contrast to corticosteroids injection (CS) which safety has been put into serious consideration13,14,15,16. There is vast of scientific publications which describes that CS injections contributes to cartilage thinning and damage17 or leads to significant tenocyte viability reduction and increase in possibility of future tendon rupture18.