[Blood platelets the hope for the future]

Blood platelets (thrombocytes) are specialized cells, which play a very important role in the human blood clotting mechanism. They are colourless, varied in shape, nucleus free pieces of cytoplasm of megakaryocytes. Activated platelets excrete the contents of alfa-granules (e.g: growth factors) into the surrounding blood. For the last three decades, growth factors have been increasingly examined. Their main families are the following: PDGF, TGF-beta, IGF or EGF. The aim of the study is to present the current state of knowledge about the structure and function of the platelets and the views on their application in the treatment of tissue (bone) healing disorders.

The following analysis contains a presentation of morphology and biochemistry of the blood platelets. The presented results of clinical and laboratory estimation following the use of platelet-rich substances have been gathered from available literature. Furthermore, the authors have described their own cases of five patients with non-union treated for chronic, inflammation of bones by use of PDGF.

The authors of mentioned literature references report the efficacy of using platelet-rich substances as a very positive method in process of soft tissue and bone healing. Among five patients, who were treated in MSWiA with WMCO hospital in Olsztyn four were successfully and permanently cured. One patient's inflammation returned after a year following the treatment.

Examples, we present in this study, show how many various problems can be solved in modern medicine by using platelet-derived substances. In our opinion, further research of the role they fulfill in the processes of healing of soft tissues and bones, as well as the development of an effective technology for their mass production, will surely lead to a common, clinical application of these substances.