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Clinical Trials/NCT07766330
NCT07766330Not yet recruitingNot Applicable

Effect of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Restriction on the Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Knee Osteoarthritis

Federal University of São Paulo1 site in 1 country90 target enrollmentStarted: October 1, 2026Last updated:
Conditions
Interventions
Drugs

Trial Snapshot

Phase
Not Applicable
Status
Not yet recruiting
Sponsor
Enrollment
90
Locations
1
Primary Endpoint
Change From Baseline in Knee Pain Measured by a Visual Analog Scale

Study Overview

Brief Summary

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to learn whether taking ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, after a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection changes pain relief and knee function in adults with knee osteoarthritis.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does ibuprofen change the improvement in knee pain six months after a PRP injection compared with acetaminophen?

Does ibuprofen change knee function or the need for additional pain medicine during follow-up?

Researchers will compare PRP followed by ibuprofen with PRP followed by acetaminophen. Participants will receive one ultrasound-guided PRP injection and take the assigned medication every eight hours for five days. They will complete assessments of pain, knee function, additional pain medicine use, and safety. Participants and the physician performing the injection will not know which medication was assigned.

Detailed Description

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has shown promising results for reducing pain and improving function in people with knee osteoarthritis. However, it is unclear whether the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs after PRP may affect the clinical response. This study will compare ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, with acetaminophen, which has no clinically relevant anti-inflammatory effect at the study dose.

This is a randomized, controlled, parallel-group, double-blind clinical trial. Ninety adults with knee osteoarthritis will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to one of two groups. All participants will receive a single ultrasound-guided intra-articular injection of leukocyte-rich PRP. After the injection, participants will receive either ibuprofen 400 mg every eight hours or acetaminophen 500 mg every eight hours for five consecutive days. The medications will be provided in visually identical capsules. Participants and the physician performing the injection will remain unaware of the assigned medication.

The primary outcome will be the change in knee pain measured using a visual analog scale six weeks after the injection. Secondary assessments will include knee function measured using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the use of additional pain medication during follow-up.

Adverse events will be monitored through digital questionnaires at 24 hours, 48 hours, and seven days after the intervention, as well as during scheduled follow-up visits. Adverse events will be classified according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.0.

Study Design

Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Double (Participant, Care Provider)

Masking Description

Ibuprofen and acetaminophen will be provided in visually identical capsules. Participants and the physician performing the platelet-rich plasma injection will remain blinded to the assigned medication.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages
18 Years to 80 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • •Age between 18 and 80 years
  • •Knee pain for at least 3 months
  • •Radiographic evidence of knee osteoarthritis classified as Kellgren-Lawrence grade I, II, or III
  • •Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

  • •Body mass index of 35 kg/m2 or higher
  • •Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • •Diabetes mellitus with glycated hemoglobin greater than 6.5%
  • •Hematologic disease, including anemia, coagulopathy, or thrombophilia
  • •Hemoglobin below 11 g/dL
  • •Hematocrit below 33%
  • •Platelet count below 150,000/mm3
  • •Advanced knee osteoarthritis
  • •Rheumatologic disease
  • •Chronic kidney disease
  • •Respiratory disease, including rhinitis, asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • •Active or previous oncologic disease, as defined in the protocol
  • •Fibromyalgia
  • •Psychiatric disorder currently under treatment
  • •Substance dependence, including smoking, harmful alcohol use, or other substance use
  • •Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs within the previous 30 days
  • •Use of systemic, intra-articular, topical, or inhaled glucocorticoids within the previous 3 months
  • •Current use of anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication
  • •American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification of 3 or higher
  • •Currently receiving disability or sickness-related social security benefits
  • •Inability or unwillingness to provide informed consent or complete the required patient-reported outcome measures

Arms & Interventions

Platelet-Rich Plasma Plus Ibuprofen

Experimental

Participants will receive a single ultrasound-guided intra-articular injection of leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma, followed by ibuprofen 400 mg orally every eight hours for five consecutive days.

Intervention: Leukocyte-Rich Platelet-Rich Plasma (Biological)

Platelet-Rich Plasma Plus Acetaminophen

Active Comparator

Participants will receive a single ultrasound-guided intra-articular injection of leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma, followed by acetaminophen 500 mg orally every eight hours for five consecutive days.

Intervention: Leukocyte-Rich Platelet-Rich Plasma (Biological)

Platelet-Rich Plasma Plus Ibuprofen

Experimental

Participants will receive a single ultrasound-guided intra-articular injection of leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma, followed by ibuprofen 400 mg orally every eight hours for five consecutive days.

Intervention: ibuprofen (Drug)

Platelet-Rich Plasma Plus Acetaminophen

Active Comparator

Participants will receive a single ultrasound-guided intra-articular injection of leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma, followed by acetaminophen 500 mg orally every eight hours for five consecutive days.

Intervention: Acetaminophen (Drug)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change From Baseline in Knee Pain Measured by a Visual Analog Scale

Time Frame: Baseline and 6 months after the intervention

Knee pain will be measured using a 100-mm visual analog scale ranging from 0 mm (no pain) to 100 mm (worst imaginable pain). Change from baseline will be calculated, with a negative change indicating improvement.

Secondary Outcomes

  • Change From Baseline in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index Total Score(Baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months after the intervention)
  • Additional Analgesic Consumption(1 week, 3 weeks and 3 months after the intervention)

Investigators

Sponsor
Federal University of São Paulo
Sponsor Class
Other
Responsible Party
Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator

Paulo Santoro Belangero

Affiliated Professor, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

Federal University of São Paulo

Study Sites (1)

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