Background There is variability in individual response to platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy in tennis elbow treatment. Genetic variation, especially within genes encoding growth factors may influence the observed inter-individual differences. The purpose of this study was to identify polymorphic variants of the platelet-derived growth factor beta polypeptide gene (PDGFB) that determine an improved individual response to PRP therapy in tennis elbow patients. Methods This prospective cohort study was designed in accordance with STROBE and MIBO guidelines. A cohort of 107 patients (132 elbows, 25 bilateral) was studied, including 65 females (77 elbows) and 42 males (55 elbows), aged 24–64 years (median 46.00 ± 5.50), with lateral elbow tendinopathy treated with autologous PRP injection. The effectiveness of PRP therapy was recorded in all subjects at 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 and 52 weeks after PRP injection using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), quick version of Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score (QDASH) and Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE). In order to determine the PDGFB variants with the best response to PRP therapy, patient reported outcome measures were compared between individual genotypes within studied polymorphic variants (rs2285099, rs2285097, rs2247128, rs5757572, rs1800817 and rs7289325). The influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms on blood and PRP parameters, including the concentration of PDGF-AB and PDGF-BB proteins was also analyzed. Results Our analysis identified genetic variants of the PDGFB gene that lead to a better response to PRP therapy. The TT (rs2285099) and CC (rs2285097) homozygotes had higher concentration of platelets in whole blood than carriers of other genotypes (p = 0.018) and showed significantly (p < 0.05) lower values of VAS (weeks 2–12), QDASH and PRTEE (weeks 2–24). The rs2285099 and rs2285097 variants formed strong haplotype block (r2 = 98, D’=100). The AA homozygotes (rs2247128) had significantly lower values of VAS (weeks 4–52), QDASH and PRTEE (weeks 8, 12). Conclusions PDGFB gene’s polymorphisms increase the effectiveness of PRP therapy in tennis elbow treatment. Genotyping two polymorphisms of the PDGFB gene, namely rs2285099 (or rs2285097) and rs2247128 may be a helpful diagnostic tool while assessing patients for PRP therapy and modifying the therapy to improve its effectiveness.

Background: The effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis remains debatable. Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of PRP in lateral epicondylitis treatment using minimal clinically important difference (MCID) values as a reference and to investigate if leukocyte content can influence the effectiveness of the therapy. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, the authors searched the Medline and Scopus databases for studies on lateral epicondylitis and PRP therapy that used the following patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs): visual analog scale (VAS) for pain; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH); Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE); and Mayo Clinic Performance Index (MAYO). The weighted arithmetic means for the PROMs were calculated at baseline (week 0) and follow-up weeks 4, 8, 12, 24, 52, and 104. The mean differences in outcomes (ΔVAS, ΔDASH, ΔPRTEE, and ΔMAYO) were compared with the MCID values at each follow-up point. In addition, the effectiveness of leukocyte-rich PRP (LR-PRP) versus leukocyte-poor PRP (LP-PRP) was also compared. The Student t test was used in all analyses. Results: A total of 26 studies were included in the analysis. After PRP injection, all PROM scores improved with time. The scores improved significantly from baseline to each follow-up time ( P < .0001), with the exception of the PRTEE (no significant difference at follow-up weeks 12 and 52). The mean difference in scores from baseline exceeded the respective MCIDs from weeks 4 to 104 for the VAS and DASH, from weeks 4 to 52 for the MAYO, and from weeks 8 to 52 for the PRTEE. The MCID for each of the PROMs was exceeded at almost every observation period in both the LR-PRP and the LP-PRP systems. Conclusion: Based on comparisons with the MCID values of commonly used outcome scores, PRP seems to be an effective form of treatment for lateral epicondylitis. Both the LR- PRP and the LP- PRP systems were effective in the context of meeting the MCID.

Background: This study aims to identify genotype variants of the platelet-derived growth factor alpha polypeptide gene (PDGFA) that can influence the individual response to the treatment with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in tennis elbow patients. Methods: We observed a cohort of 107 patients (132 elbows) with tennis elbow who received treatment with PRP. Patients have been followed-up for two years after PRP injection and the effectiveness of the treatment was measured using universal patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs): visual analog scale (VAS), quick version of disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand score (QDASH), and patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation (PRTEE). PROMs values, and clinical and platelet parameters were compared between genotype variants of the studied polymorphisms (rs1800814, rs2070958 and rs62433334). Results: The A allele carriers (rs1800814) had significantly lower values of VAS (week 12), QDASH, and PRTEE (weeks 8, 12). The T allele carriers (rs2070958) had significantly lower values of VAS (weeks 8, 12), QDASH, and PRTEE (weeks 4–12). Additional forms of therapy (manual and physical) were necessary significantly more often in GG (rs1800814) and CC (rs2070958) homozygotes. Conclusions: The PDGFA gene’s polymorphisms influences the effectiveness of PRP therapy in tennis elbow treatment. The effectiveness of PRP is greater in A allele (rs1800814) and T allele (rs2070958) carriers.

Background: Differences in response to PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy may be linked to the variability of growth factors and their receptor’s genes. Considering that, we checked whether the platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta gene (PDGFRB) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) affect the effectiveness of PRP therapy in treating tennis elbow patients. Methods: The treatment efficacy was analyzed over time (2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 52, and 104 weeks after PRP injection) on 107 patients (132 elbows) using PROMs (patient-reported outcome measures), namely VAS (Visual Analog Scale), QDASH (quick version of Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand) and PRTEE (Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation). Five polymorphisms of the PDGFRB gene (rs4324662, rs758588, rs3828610, rs3756311, and rs3756312) were genotyped. Results: The CC (rs3828610) and GG (rs3756311 and rs3756312) genotypes had a particularly strong impact on the effectiveness of the therapy, as measured by the values of PROMs, both in additive as well as dominant/recessive models. These homozygotes were also characterized by significantly higher values of MPV (mean platelet volume). Conclusions: The PDGFRB gene SNPs affect the effectiveness of PRP therapy in treating tennis elbow patients and it may result from the differentiated metabolic activity of platelets in particular genotype variants.

Genetic factors can influence the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the survival of patients. Our previous research led to the identification of genetic variants predisposing to CAD in the Polish population. Since many of them affect the clinical phenotype of the disease, the aim of this study was searching for genetic factors potentially influencing survival in patients with CAD. The study included 276 patients hospitalized due to coronary artery disease. The database of medical history and genotypic results of 29 polymorphisms were used. The endpoint was defined as death from cardiovascular causes. Survival was defined as the period from angiographic confirmation of CAD to death from cardiovascular causes. Three of all the analyzed genes were associated with survival. In the case of the AGT (rs699) and ABCA1 (rs2230806) genes polymorphisms, the risk of death was higher in GG homozygotes compared to the A allele carriers in the 10-year period. In the case of the CYBA (rs72811418) gene polymorphism, the effect on mortality was shown in both 5- and 10-year periods. The TA heterozygotes were predisposed to a higher risk of death than the TT homozygotes. Concluding, the AGT, ABCA1, and CYBA genes polymorphisms influence the risk of death in patients with CAD.