Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Plaque Psoriasis: A Systematic Review

Psoriasis is a chronic and recurring condition characterized by scaly red plaques. The most common variant, plaque-type psoriasis, presents distinct clinical features. It profoundly impacts psychological and mental well-being, resulting in depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Psoriasis occurs due to disruptions in the skin's innate and adaptive immune response triggered by trauma, infection, or medications. Treatment options include topical therapies such as corticosteroids and vitamin D analogs, phototherapy, conventional systemic agents such as methotrexate (MTX), and biologics that target pro-inflammatory cytokines. There has been growing interest in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as a potential treatment option for plaque psoriasis, given its lower toxicity compared to existing approaches. However, its use is not yet widespread in clinical practice due to the limited awareness of its effectiveness. This review aims to investigate the efficacy of PRP therapy for plaque psoriasis. To conduct a comprehensive analysis, we followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, thoroughly searching PubMed, Elton Bryson Stephens Company (EBSCO), and ClinicalTrials.gov between February and July 2023. Our focus was on patients diagnosed with plaque psoriasis, and we found multiple studies that demonstrated promising results of PRP either as monotherapy or in combination with current treatments such as MTX. The clinical evidence strongly supports the effectiveness of PRP in treating plaque psoriasis. PRP significantly improves dermatological symptoms and enhances patient and physician satisfaction. Research suggests that PRP reduces the expression of interleukin (IL) 17, a pro-inflammatory mediator, explaining its mechanism of action in treating plaque psoriasis. However, additional clinical trials with larger sample sizes, including PRP as a separate treatment group and comparisons with positive and control groups, are necessary to reinforce its efficacy in plaque psoriasis patients and elucidate other potential mechanisms underlying its beneficial effects.