1000 Section - Comparative Effectiveness of Intra-Articular Leukocyte-Rich Platelet-Rich Plasma and Hyaluronic Acid in Treating Knee Osteoarthritis Pain: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM PT

Presenting Author/Autor expositor(s)

DH

Di Huang, MBBS

MPH student
Johns Hopkins University
baltimore, Maryland, United States

Co-Author/Coautor(s)

YP

Yu-Ning Peng, MD

Physician
McGill University Health Center
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
IC

I-Ling Chou, MD

Physician
China Medical Hospital
Taichung City, Taichung, Taiwan (Republic of China)

Corresponding Author/Autor a quien dirigir la corr(s)

Henry Lew, MD

Professor
John A. Burns School of Medicine
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

Objectives : Leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma (LR-PRP) has become a common treatment option for alleviating knee osteoarthritis (OA) pain. Nevertheless, its long-term effectiveness remains uncertain. Although numerous meta-analyses have investigated the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) compared to hyaluronic acid (HA), studies that isolate and analyze the effects of LR-PRP alone are notably limited. To overcome these challenges, this systematic review and meta-analysis seeks to synthesize findings from randomized controlled trials (RCTs), aiming to generate more reliable and robust conclusions.

Design: Two reviewers independently searched electronic databases for eligible RCTs. Outcomes included WOMAC total and subdomain scores, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, and adverse events.

Results: Nineteen RCTs involving 1,771 patients were included. LR-PRP demonstrated significant pain relief compared to HA at 3 months post-treatment, but not at 1, 6, or 12 months. At 12 months, LR-PRP was associated with improved WOMAC physical function (MD = -6.37; 95% CI: -12.51 to -0.24; I² = 85%) and stiffness scores (MD = -0.63; 95% CI: -0.98 to -0.27; I² = 0%), but no differences were observed at earlier timepoints or in total WOMAC scores. Adverse event rates were similar between groups.

Conclusion:
LR-PRP provides long-term functional improvements in patients with chronic knee OA, though evidence for short-term functional benefits remains limited. LR-PRP shows no long-term advantage over intra-articular HA injections in pain relief. Overall, the evidence does not support the superiority of LR-PRP over HA in managing knee OA.