Eficacia y seguridad del uso de plasma rico en plaquetas y ácido hialurónico en la osteoartritis de rodilla: una revisión sistemática de la literatura

Knee osteoarthritis is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide and represents a major public health concern. Currently, metabolic and inflammatory factors are recognized as pathogenic elements to the extent that osteoarthritis has been redefined as a condition characterized by "low-grade chronic inflammation." In this context, interest has grown in regenerative medicine therapies such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and hyaluronic acid (HA), used either individually or in combination. The aim of this study was to synthesize recent evidence on the efficacy and safety of these interventions in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. A systematic review of the literature published between 2018 and 2024 was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect, using terms related to osteoarthritis, PRP, and HA. Six studies meeting the eligibility criteria were selected. The results showed that PRP provided superior benefits in pain reduction and functional improvement compared with HA, particularly in long-term follow-up. Combined therapy with PRP + HA demonstrated additional advantages in some studies, both in clinical efficacy and safety. Regarding safety, the combination was associated with a lower frequency of adverse events such as hypertension and proteinuria. In conclusion, PRP emerges as a more effective therapeutic option than HA for knee osteoarthritis, while the combination of PRP + HA may offer complementary benefits. However, methodological heterogeneity limits comparisons across studies, underscoring the need for research with larger sample sizes and standardized protocols for PRP preparation and administration.