Platlet Rich Fibrin
Among the great challenges facing clinical research, is the development of bioactive surgical additives regulating inflammation and increasing healing, looking for an “edge” that jump-starts the healing process, Platelet-rich fibrin is one such new development. First described by Choukroun et al in France. This second-generation platelet concentrate called platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) has been widely used to accelerate soft and hard tissue healing. Its advantages over the better-known PRP (Platelet rich plasma) include ease of preparation/application, minimal expense, and lack of biochemical modification (no bovine thrombin or anticoagulant is required).
PRF is a leukocyte and platelet concentrate containing many growth factors. This new biomaterial looks like an autologous cicatricial matrix, which is neither like fibrin glue nor like a classical platelet concentrate. It is simply centrifuged blood without any addition. PRF consists of a fibrin matrix polymerized in a tetra molecular structure, with the incorporation of platelets, leucocytes, cytokines, and circulating stem cells. To evaluate the efficacy of PRF in non-healing ulcers.
Around 9-10 ml of whole venous blood is collected in each of the two sterile vacutainer tubes (freeze-2hrs) of 10 ml capacity without anticoagulant.
SIX patients with non-healing ulcers since long duration were selected and prf done weekly once and results were analysed using photographic evaluation, reduction in size of ulcer, reduction in healing time and patient’s self-assessment. PRF in non-healing ulcers has shown significantly good results
This new and recent generation of platelet concentrate-PRF, would be a good asset to dermatologists in the near future. More clinical, histological and statistical studies are now required from different parts of the world to understand the benefits of PRF better.