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Enhanced PRP with Alpha-2-Macroglobulin

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common health problem that can cause knee pain. Temporary relief from the pain caused by OA can generally be achieved with non-surgical treatment options, but relief is only temporary and the side effects and root cause of osteoarthritis remain.

Enhanced PRP

Standard PRP is a tried and trusted treatment that takes platelets from your own blood. These platelets break down upon injection through a process called degranulation. During this process, the platelets release growth factors. These ‘platelet derived growth factors’ have a number of effects, notably re-vascularization, aiding growth of structural tissues and improving the bio-chemistry of the affected area.

An additional ‘plasma protein’ can also be taken at the time of processing the PRP. This protein is actually quite tricky to capture and takes a fair amount of disposable equipment. However the protein in question is very interesting: Alpha-2-Macroglobulin (α2M) is a plasma protein that is responsible under normal circumstances for removing inflammation (ie – If you have a bruise – it is α2M that ultimately takes the swelling away). This protein is quite large. In fact it is too large to pass into the joint space under normal circumstances, therefore, the inflammation associated with OA is degenerative and does not go away. This is why old joints hurt and get osteoarthritic - α2M isn’t there to eat up the ‘pro-inflammatory cytokines’ that cause much of the pain.

We can take the α2M and put it into the joint space. This dramatically changes the bio-chemistry of the joint. It removes the 3 specific types of cytokine that cause much of the pain associated with OA. By taking this α2M as well as the platelets, the cause of the pain (swelling, cytokines, etc) are neutralized. Then by adding the platelets, you end up with a very advanced PRP formulation that in very simple terms, puts the fire out and then works to repair the damage caused by the fire.

Alpha-2-Macroglobulin

Alpha-2-macroglobulin (α2M) is a plasma protein that has been described as a broad spectrum protease inhibitor.

A normal healthy joint maintains a steady balance of various chemicals. In a diseased or osteoarthritic joint, the balance of these chemicals becomes unstable. A number of cartilage degrading proteins called catabolic proteases break down the cartilage and cause inflammation.

α2M selectivity binds to the three main classes of these damaging proteases. They are broken down and removed from the joint space. α2M improves and restores an equilibrium in the biochemistry of the affected joint.  Inflammatory proteins and cartilage destroying proteins are removed and the disease progression is halted.

When used in conjunction with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) - growth factors derived from the blood sample in which the α2M was taken - or stem cells derived from bone marrow, the action of α2M works to improve the biochemistry of the affected joint. This then allows the growth factors or stem cells to act unhindered.

For the long term relief of OA symptoms, a highly concentrated injection of Alpha-2-Macroglobulin (α2M) can impact the progression of the disease and reverse it. Alpha-2-Macroglobulin (α2M) binds to chemicals produced in the joints that degrade cartilage over time and neutralizes their degenerative effect.

Alpha-2-Macroglobulin can:

  • Halt progression of osteoarthritis
  • Reduce the pain caused by osteoarthritis
  • Improve joint function
  • Promote tissue growth
  • Support the restoration of affected joint(s)
  • Stop the breakdown of cartilage and prevent cartilage loss.
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New York, NY 10016

Ph: (646) 501 7047

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