Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most frequent osteoarticular disease worldwide. Only few treatments are available, among which intra-articular injection (i.a.) of hyaluronic acid (HA) has been reported to slow disease progression. PRP with autologous growth factors (GF) is compared to HA in a clinical study for the treatment of early OA. Patients are clinically evaluated for a wide number soluble factor levels that will be correlated to the clinical outcomes.

The overall aim is to increase both clinical and biological knowledge on the use of PRP, in order to determine the real efficacy for clinical application and to identify the aspect to be improved for achieving the best results in the treatment of degenerative joint conditions.

Unit 1

WP Coordinator: Prof. Maurilio Marcacci, IOR
Phone +39-051 6366075    E-mail: m.marcacci@biomec.ior.it
Director of II Orthopaedics and Traumatology Clinic and Biomechanics Laboratory. He is responsible for the clinical and research activity monitoring the study design, patient enrolment, treatment and evaluation.

Unit 2
Unit Leader: Prof. Erminia Mariani, Unibo-IOR
Phone +39-051-6366803  E-mail: erminia.mariani@unibo.it

Director of the Laboratory of Immunorheumatology and Tissue Regeneration. She is responsible for the storage and immunological characterization of the biological samples.