Abstract: Autologous platelet concentrates (APCs) are being used increasingly in horses to enhance regeneration in tissues that have poor natural healing capabilities. Numerous APC systems, which are based on different preparation techniques and were originally developed for human patients, are now routinely used in equine cases. However, preliminary process validation and adequate in vitro biochemical characterisation of most of these systems do not exist for horses. Objective: To compare haematological findings and growth factor concentrations of equine APCs obtained with 4 commercially available systems and a noncommercial double-centrifugation technique. Methods: Nonrandomised in vitro experiment. Methods: Blood samples from 6 horses were processed to produce APCs using one equine-specific filtration-based and 4 different centrifugation-based techniques. Platelet, leucocyte, platelet-derived growth factor-BB and transforming growth factor-β1 concentrations were measured in all APCs, and their respective enrichment factors were compared. Results: Mean platelet concentration increased in all systems in comparison to baseline; however, the mean enrichment factor, which ranged from 130% to 527% depending on the APC, was statistically significant in only 2 products. One method reduced total leucocyte counts to 9% of the baseline value, while the others had a mean fold increase varying from 116 to 663% of the baseline. Differential leucocyte count also differed between the products. Moreover, the various systems had significantly different mean growth factor enrichments (184-1255% for platelet-derived growth factor-BB and 93-560% for transforming growth factor-β1 ). Conclusions: Haematological and biochemical characteristics varied markedly among 5 techniques used in the field to produce APCs in horses. These discrepancies could have an impact on clinical outcomes, and further studies are needed to determine their influence on the quality of tissue regeneration. Clinicians should not rely on the manufacturers' data relating to human patients to select the most appropriate method for horses.
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This research compares different techniques for producing horse platelet concentrates, a treatment method used to help tissue regeneration. The results demonstrate that these techniques vary in their effectiveness, which could impact treatment outcomes.
Introduction
The study examined autologous platelet concentrates (APCs), which are derived from a horse’s own blood and help to increase tissue regeneration in areas that naturally struggle to heal.
While APCs were initially created for human patients, they are now being increasingly used in the treatment of horses.
Despite their broad adoption, there is little process validation or biochemical characterisation for most APC systems in horses.
Aim of the Study
The research aimed to compare the haematological findings and growth factor concentrations in horse APCs using five different systems.
The systems included one specific to horses and based on filtration and four that use centrifugation.
Methodology
The nonrandomised in vitro experiment involved extracting and processing blood samples from six different horses.
The researchers then compared platelet, leucocyte, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, and transforming growth factor-β1 concentrations in the resulting APCs.
The respective enrichment factors of each of these components were also analysed and compared.
Results
The results showed that the platelet concentration increased in all systems compared to baseline, but the enrichment factor, ranged from 130% to 527%, was only statistically significant in two products.
Some systems significantly increased the leucocyte count, up to 663% of the baseline, while one decreased it to just 9%.
There were also discrepancies in the differential leucocyte count among the different systems.
The mean growth factor enrichments also differed significantly among the systems (184-1255% for platelet-derived growth factor-BB and 93-560% for transforming growth factor-β1).
Conclusions
The research concluded that the different techniques used to create equine APCs varied substantially, which could potentially affect clinical outcomes.
Further studies are needed to determine the effect of these discrepancies on tissue regeneration.
The study highlights the importance of not relying on manufacturers’ data related to human patients when selecting an appropriate method for equine patients.
Cite This Article
APA
Hessel LN, Bosch G, van Weeren PR, Ionita JC.
(2014).
Equine autologous platelet concentrates: A comparative study between different available systems.
Equine Vet J, 47(3), 319-325.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12288
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