The use of platelet rich plasma (PRP) as a novel nonsurgical treatment of the female stress urinary incontinence: a prospective pilot study.

Objective: To evaluate efficacy and safety of platelet rich plasma (PRP) for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) treatment. Design: Prospective observational pilot study. Setting: Tertiary referral urogynecology unit in Greece. Sample: Adult women with urodynamically confirmed SUI. Methods: Twenty women met the inclusion criteria and attended follow-ups. All participants underwent 2 PRP injections into the lower one-third of the anterior vaginal wall at 4-6 week intervals. At baseline they underwent urodynamic studies, a 1-hr pad test and completed the ICIQ-FLUTS and KHQ questionnaires. At follow up visits (1,3 and 6 months) patients underwent the 1hr-pad test and completed the KHQ, ICIQ-FLUTS and PGI-I. Primary outcome was to evaluate post-treatment SUI. Secondary outcomes included assessment of patient reported questionnaires, assessment of urine loss (1hr-pad test) and the level of discomfort during injections (VAS score). Statistical analysis was performed before PRP and 1,3 and 6 months after the last treatment. Results: A significant improvement of SUI symptoms was observed 3 months after treatment with a further improvement at 6 months. A mean reduction of 50.2% of urine loss was observed in the 1hr-pad test. At 6-month follow-up 80.0% of women reported to be at least improved. No adverse effects were observed. Conclusions: PRP injections were both effective and safe in the short term and could be offered as an alternative outpatient procedure for the treatment of SUI. However, these encouraging findings warrant further investigation with randomized controlled trials. Funding: No funding to declare. Keywords: PRP; Stress urinary incontinence; Minimally invasive treatment, Female Incontinec