Some patients (and some of us) respond better to some biological therapies: the as yet unsolved conundrum

Abstract

Very often, treatment for many common musculoskeletal conditions is only palliative, or involves surgery with major shortcomings. Biological interventions—in particular, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapies—may well provide more effective treatments, but their actual efficacy is under scrutiny. PRP is biologically unique to each individual depending on endogenous and exogenous factors, including, but not limited to, demographic factors (i.e. age), immune status (i.e. microbiota), metabolic diseases and concomitant medications. All these potential modifiers of the ultimate effects of PRP have been poorly explored, and their relationship with efficacy has not been established.