THE USE OF PLATELET-RICH PLASMA AS A SOURCE OF GROWTH FACTORS FOR BONE GRAFT HEALING - Platelet-rich plasma is one of the new technologies being used today to enhance the healing of bone grafts used in conjunction with implant therapy. Platelets are rich in growth factors which are the universal initiators of wound healing. They are also natural, non-toxic and non-immunoreactive, which makes them advantageous over any recombinant growth factor product. PROCUREMENT: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is developed form autologous blood with a cell separator and centrifuge. After the PRP component comes off, the remaining components are re-infused into the patient. About 70 cc of product are obtained for one unit (450 cc) of blood. APPLICATION: The PRP is then mixed 10% CaCl to initiate a clotting process. This forms a fibrin-glue product that helps bind the cancellous bone marrow together which assists in placing and sculpting the graft. The fibrin network also acts as a scaffold for new bone to grow on after the growth factors within the platelets initiate osteogenesis. COMPONENTS: Studies have shown that there are three important growth factors found in the granules of the platelets: platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor-B1 and transforming growth factor-B2. These factors will act to promote osteogenesis by stimulating capillary ingrowth, deposition of a collagen matrix and differentiation of cells into osteoblasts with the production of new bone. CLINICAL RESULTS WITH PRP: The advantage of PRP is two-fold: (1) Accelerating the development and maturation of the graft so it will heal faster. PRP grafts usually heal and are mature within 4 months as opposed to a minimum of 6 months without the use of PRP. (2) The bone produced with the use of PRP is more dense and of greater volume and quality. This leads to more stable bone for the implants which in turn increases the overall success rate. . Date Added: 4/26/2000.