Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Management of Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders - A Systematic Review

Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) represent a spectrum of lesions with an increased risk of malignant transformation into oral cancer. Traditional pharmacological interventions such as corticosteroids and immunomodulators have shown variable success. Recently, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), known for its regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties, has emerged as a novel therapeutic option in the management of OPMDs. This review aimed to systematically review and analyse the existing literature on the efficacy of PRP in the management of OPMDs compared to conventional treatment modalities. A comprehensive search was conducted across electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar without year restrictions, limited to English-language studies. Eligible studies included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), evaluating PRP for OPMDs. Inclusion criteria were adults aged 18 years or older diagnosed with OPMDs, treated with PRP, and not undergoing concurrent treatments. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias RoB 2.0 tool. Data synthesis was done narratively, focussing on lesion response, histological regression, and clinical improvement. Preliminary findings suggest that PRP shows promising efficacy in improving clinical and histological outcomes in patients with OPMDs, particularly oral lichen planus. Compared to conventional treatments such as corticosteroids, PRP demonstrated favourable results in reducing lesion size, improving symptoms, and promoting epithelial healing with minimal adverse effects. PRP appears to be an effective adjunct or alternative to conventional therapy in the management of OPMDs. While early results are encouraging, well-designed large-scale RCTs are needed to establish standardised protocols and validate its long-term efficacy and safety.