TY - JOUR TI - The Use of Platelet-rich Plasma as a Novel Nonsurgical Treatment of the Female Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Prospective Pilot Study AU - Athanasiou, Stavros AU - Kalantzis, Christos AU - Zacharakis, Dimitrios AU - and Kathopoulis, Nikolaos AU - Pontikaki, Artemis AU - Grigoriadis, AU - Themistoklis JO - FEMALE PELVIC MEDICINE AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY PY - 2021 VL - 27 TODO - 11 SP - E668-E672 PB - Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins SN - null TODO - 10.1097/SPV.0000000000001100 TODO - PRP; stress urinary incontinence; minimally invasive treatment; female incontinence TODO - Objectives The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Methods This was a prospective observational pilot study conducted in a tertiary referral unit, enrolling women with SUI booked for SUI surgery. A total of 20 consecutive women met the inclusion criteria and attended all follow-ups. All participants underwent 2 PRP injections into the lower one third of the anterior vaginal wall at 4- to 6-week intervals. At baseline, they underwent urodynamic studies, a 1-hour pad test, and completed the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and King’s Health Questionnaire. At follow-up visits (1, 3, and 6 months), patients underwent the 1-hour pad test and completed the King’s Health Questionnaire, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms, and Patient Global Impression Scale of Improvement. Primary outcome was to evaluate posttreatment SUI. Secondary outcomes included assessment of patient-reported questionnaires, assessment of urine loss (1-hour pad test), and the level of discomfort during injections (visual analog scale score). Statistical analysis was performed before PRP and 1, 3, and 6 months after the last treatment. Results A significant improvement in SUI symptoms was observed 3 months after treatment with a further improvement at 6 months. A mean reduction of 50.2% in urine loss was observed in the 1-hour pad test. At the 6-month follow-up, 80.0% of women reported to be at least improved. No adverse effects were observed. Conclusions Platelet-rich plasma injections were both effective and safe at least 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. ER -