Platelet Rich Plasma For COPD: Does It Work?
Dear Dr. Mahler,
A friend recently told me that he received a platelet rich plasma injection into his shoulder to try to repair damage to the rotator cuff muscles. He then mentioned that someone in the waiting room at the treatment center was using oxygen and told him that he was getting the same treatment for COPD. Can you tell me whether this works for COPD?
I am 71 years old and have had COPD for at least 15 years. My breathing has gotten worse and I find it difficult to even walk 30 yards before needing to stop to catch my breath. I am very frustrated because I can’t do things that I enjoy such as walking my dog on a nearby trail, and have to pay someone to do outdoor yard work on our property. I use Stiolto in the morning and ProAir several tiems a day when I feel short of breath. My oxygen level at home ranges form 91 to 93% when I do activities, and I haven’t had a flare-up in the past few years.
Should I consider platelet rich plasma treatment? I asked my lung doctor about this, but she did not know anything about this topic.
Andrew from Mt. Airy, NC
Dear Andrew,
There are three main cells in blood – red and white blood cells along with platelets. The total volume of blood includes plasma – 55%, red blood cells – 44 – 45%, and a combination of white blood cells and platelets – about 1%. Here is a brief summary of how to obtain platelet rich plasma.
Blood is drawn from an arm vein and placed in a test tube that spins in a centrifuge machine (centrifugation) to separate the blood sample into several layers.
The yellow, top layer is plasma, the middle layer is white and contains white blood cells and platelets, and the bottom layer contains red blood cells
The figure shown below ⇓ illustrates the process for obtaining platelet rich plasma.
Platelet rich plasma is then administered back into your body in the area or areas that require healing. For those with COPD, the platelet rich plasma is typically mixed with normal saline (salt water), placed into a cup attached to a nebulizer, and then the person breathes the solution into the lungs.
What Is The Purpose of Inhaling Platelet Rich Plasma?
Platelets contain more than 30 bioactive proteins, many of which have a fundamental role in tissue healing. Ideally, platelet rich plasma would repair damage in breathing tubes (airways) and/or air sacs in the lungs (alveoli).
Is Inhaling Platelet Rich Plasma Safe And Effective?
The simple answers are – I don’t know. I did a literature search on Google and in PubMed using the phrase, “Platelet rich plasma for treatment of COPD.” I could not find any studies reported for the public or for health care professionals. From a medical perspective, inhaling platelet rich plasma is considered investigational. That means that there is no known or proven benefit. This procedure is not covered by usual health care insurance, and the individual needs to pay “out of pocket.”
Andrew – it is likely that your lung doctor did not know about this topic because there are no published studies. At the next appointment with your lung doctor, you might ask, “What can be done to optimize my COPD?” In addition, consider getting more information about COPD as presented in COPD: Answers To Your Most Pressing Questions About COPD published in January 2022 by Johns Hopkins University Press.
Please note, the advice provided is not a substitute for asking your health care professional about your specific situation.
Sincerely,
Donald A. Mahler, M.D.