Effects of blood-derived products and sodium hyaluronate on equine synovial fluid cells and on synovial fluid from osteochondrotic joints of horses after arthroscopy and administration of treatment.

This study compares the effects of different treatments including platelet-rich plasma (PRP), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IRAP), autologous processed plasma (APP), and sodium hyaluronate on the synovial fluid cells of horses’ joints, both in healthy conditions and in horses suffering from osteochondrosis dissecans. The findings suggest that while all treatments have antioxidant effects, the use of PRP should be cautiously administered after arthroscopy. The treatments of sodium hyaluronate, APP, and IRAP are also found to potentially help reduce joint inflammation.

Experimental Procedure

• The research involved both in vitro (lab) and in vivo (living organism) methods. For the in vitro experiment, synovial fluid cells from 8 healthy equine tibiotarsal joints were analyzed. For the in vivo experiment, the team gathered synovial fluid samples from 40 tibiotarsal joints of 25 horses diagnosed with osteochondrosis dissecans.
• The aim was to study the effects of PRP, IRAP, APP and sodium hyaluronate treatments on various factors such as concentrations of prostaglandin E (PGE), interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-10, and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), as well as the production of reactive oxygen species.
• In the in vivo experiment, researchers collected synovial fluid samples before and 48 hours after arthroscopy and treatment application to examine the concentrations of biomarkers including hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, PGE, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-1, IL-10, and IL-1ra.

Key Findings

• Results from the in vitro experiment showed that all treatments under consideration reduced reactive oxygen species production, PRP increased PGE concentrations, and PRP, IRAP, and APP increased IL-1ra concentrations. However, only IRAP and APP treatments raised IL-1 concentrations.
• In the in vivo experiment findings, PRP treatment was noticeable for increasing and IRAP for decreasing PGE concentrations in synovial fluid after arthroscopy. All treatments boosted IL-1ra concentrations, but only sodium hyaluronate caused a significant increase in concentration compared to the untreated joints. Additionally, IRAP reduced hyaluronic acid breakdown in synovial fluid.

Conclusion and Recommendations

• The study concludes that although all treatments exhibited antioxidant effects, certain treatments may have advantages over others. Sodium hyaluronate, APP, and IRAP treatments are suggested to help alleviate joint inflammation in horses.
• However, caution should be taken when using PRP immediately after arthroscopy and for osteochondrotic joints treatment. Its application led to an increase in PGE concentrations – a proinflammatory mediator, which might not be desirable in the context of joint inflammation and recovery post-arthroscopy.