Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as therapy for diabetic foot ulcer (DFU): A systematic review and meta-analysis of the latest randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Objectives

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a prevalent and serious complication of diabetes, associated with significant morbidity and mortality rates. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a promising therapy for accelerating DFU healing, with numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) supporting its efficacy and safety. Therefore, this systematic review aims to identify, critically assess, and synthesize the most recent available RCTs regarding the effectiveness of clinical PRP for treating DFU compared to standard treatment or other alternative therapies.

Methods

This study uses a comprehensive review and synthesis of existing research according to the 2020 PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. We searched selected databases using a combination of search terms: “((PRP) OR ("platelet-rich plasma")) AND ("diabetic foot ulcer")) OR ("diabetic lower-extremity ulcer"))” from PubMed, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar in the last five years (2018–2023). Following a systematic review protocol, we selected 9 eligible articles for final analysis. Pertinent data was examined using MedCalc ver 20.215 then the results were displayed visually using forest plots.

Results

The findings from the meta-analysis revealed that PRP exhibited a healing rate that was twice as high as the control group (Relative Effects (REs) = 2.338; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.056 to 1.857, P = 0.019). Additionally, the healing time was shortened by 2 days (REs = -2.815; 95% CI = -3.252 to -0.576, P = 0.005), and there was a difference of 0.482 cm² in the reduction of ulcer area between the two groups (REs = 0.482; 95% CI = -2.428 to 4.002, P = 0.630). Importantly, none of the Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) studies reported any adverse events in the PRP group.

Conclusions

PRP represents a feasible and secure supplementary therapeutic alternative for managing DFU.