Sports medicine and arthroscopy review
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Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is increasingly used in Regenerative Medicine. The concept of PRP as a natural source of signaling molecules with paracrine effects in different cells is the basis for the increased PRP application as treatment for sports injuries. PRP recapitulates the principal functions of the natural healing response in orchestrating cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and angiogenesis. ⋯ The clinical evaluation of alternative formulations can be extremely informative. Other unexplored issues include activation, redosing, and concomitant longitudinal tenotomies. Limiting factors for the acceptance of PRP are the lack of evidence of obvious clinical improvement and reimbursement.