PRP Treatments for Cerebral Palsy
Using Platelet Rich Plasma to heal any kind of medical and cosmetic issues now belongs in the branch of medicine called regenerative medicine. That’s because doctors have found that unlike other treatments, PRP therapy goes beyond targeting symptoms. The serum is effective in the regeneration of tissues including tendons, muscles, ligaments, cartilage, and even, bone. Given that PRP can help the growth of new nerves, doctors have now experimented successfully with PRP treatments for cerebral palsy.
Cerebral Palsy Typically Occurs in Kids from Birth
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a condition that occurs in kids because of an injury to the brain in the uterus. CP can also occur because of the abnormal development of the brain. While most kids have this condition when they are born, others can develop it within the first few months of life. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1.5 to more than 4 kids in a 1,000 may have this illness that affects the nervous system.
Every child will have a unique form of CP that affects the brain’s ability to control the muscles. Until the discovery of PRP treatments for cerebral palsy, there was no cure for the condition. Though, doctors have been experimenting with PRP for brain inflammation in adults where they introduce the serum through the nose.
Cerebral Palsy Affects Normal Living
Although not likely to get worse in the lifetime of the patient, Cerebral Palsy can affect normal living. Different kids may have varying degrees of the severity of CP and it can affect any single or multiple parts of the body. While some children may have just mild tremors, others may find it difficult to walk, talk, and perform normal daily functions. Such kids may need supervision and assistance at all times. Here are some of the most common symptoms of CP.
- Hearing and vision problems
- Decreased brain function
- Inability to control muscles that are shaking, flaying, trembling, or writhing
- Muscles twist arms and legs into unnatural positions
- Stiffness of muscles
- Difficulty in grasping objects and doing simple things like putting on shoes
Case Studies Have Shown that PRP Treatments for Cerebral Palsy Work
When doctors administered PRP therapy on patients, they found that the growth factors in the serum could repair the neurons and nervous system. The treatment could also help heal brain injury so it could better control the muscles and nerves. Here are some of the positive effects that neurologists found:
- Marked improvement in cognitive abilities such as better memory, ability to perform advanced tasks, and learning more skills
- Better grasp of language and ability to form and speak two and three syllable words
- Capability of eating solid food
- More control of limbs, coordinating movements better
- Ability to fix gaze and follow moving objects
PRP Therapy Can Help Regenerate the Cells of the Nervous System
PRP treatments for cerebral palsy contain various growth factors that are highly effective in inducing the repair of the nervous system. These factors include:
- Transforming growth factor B (TGF-B)
- Vascular-endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
- Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)
- Insulin-1 (IGF-1)
During PRP treatment, doctors inject the serum into the veins. The serum stimulates a cascade of effects on the brain such as:
- Reducing amyloid proteins that result in loss of memory
- Lowering inflammation levels that affect the ability of the brain to function normally
- Raising angiogenesis or helped in the creation of new blood vessels in the brain
- Activating stem cells in the brain so they could regenerate and differentiate
- Stimulating the growth of brain collagen, a kind of proteins that strengthen the brain and give it structure.
PRP Treatments for Cerebral Palsy Involve a Unique Process for Serum Creation
Doctors can vary the PRP preparation procedures to achieve the desired levels of platelets and growth factors in the resultant serum. Here’s how lab technicians create the serum for PRP treatments for cerebral palsy.
- Doctors extract 60cc of blood from the forearm of the patient
- After placing the sample in a test tube, they use the single-spin method to process it for 30 minutes in a centrifugal device at 3500 rpm. The temperature is maintained at 18°C.
- Neurologists test the resultant PRP serum for the desired level of platelets to ensure that the treatment is viable. They may add certain additives to ready the serum for injecting.
- Within 30 minutes of developing the PRP, doctors inject 25cc into the elbow with a 20-G vein access at the rate of 1 ml per second.
Diagnostic Tests Have Proved the Effectiveness of PRP Treatments for Cerebral Palsy
To test the results, doctors conducted Positron emission tomography (PET) scans on the patient’s brain before beginning the treatment. Further scans were conducted at intervals of 24 hours, 3 months, and 6 months after the PRP treatments for cerebral palsy. The results clearly showed the development of the cerebral cortex or outer layer of the brain made of folded grey tissue. On conducting a neuroradiological evaluation, doctors found that the brain was metabolizing glucose levels more efficiently. This factor is a clear indication of improved neurons or brain cells.
Studies are still in progress on the efficacy of PRP treatments for cerebral palsy but the tests conducted so far have shown promising results.
For more information about the various medical and aesthetic conditions that PRP therapy can help, please contact us or call at (888)-981-9516. You can also put down your query and our consultants will get back to you with the details you need.
