Use of autologous platelet concentrates as regenerative therapy for chronic diseases of the equine musculoskeletal system

Abstract

Platelets are of pivotal importance for wound healing since they release growth factors that in turns produce chemotaxis, both cellular proliferation and differentiation, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix deposition. The use of autologous platelet concentrates (APCs) has been proposed for accelerating wound healing, decreasing inflammation, to stimulate the regenerative capability of the injured tissues, to decrease the fibroblastic activity and to avoid the production of non functional scarring tissue. APCs could be obtained by several methods. Each method produces APCs of different both cellular and molecular quality. Recently, some basic and clinical information that justifies the usage of APCs for the treatment of degenerative musculoskeletal diseases in horses, such as osteoarthritis, tendinopathies and desmopathies has been published.