Platelet-rich Plasma for the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND

Neuropathic pain (NP) presents a significant actual public health challenge. Traditional treatments primarily involve medications, but these approaches frequently yield unsatisfactory results, highlighting the need to explore alternative therapies, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), an autologous plasma derivative enriched with platelets.

OBJECTIVE

This article aims to systematically review the literature and provide an updated assessment of the efficacy and safety of PRP treatment for NP.

METHODS

Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we searched databases, including Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library. We assessed bias risk using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool (RoB2).

RESULTS

Among 1230 studies identified, 12 randomized trials meeting eligibility criteria were included. Due to substantial heterogeneity, pairwise meta-analysis and intervention ranking were found to be unfeasible. Most trials suggest PRP is effective in relieving NP, with no reported serious complications or significant PRP-related adverse effects. However, these findings were compromised by methodological heterogeneity and study inconsistency.

CONCLUSION

PRP has shown to be promising as a safe therapeutic option for managing NP. Future studies should prioritize improved rigor and reproducibility for more stringent conclusions.