In Germany there is a medical procedure called Orthokine in which anti-inflammatory factors are removed from the patient’s blood, manipulated, and then re-injected into the painful areas. It is an anti-inflammatory treatment used to suppress back and joint pain. By admission of its proponents it is only an anti-inflammatory and not a healing remedy.

In the United States it is called Regenokine and is considered a variant of Orthokine because of significant legal and medical issues surrounding the simple fact  that the Orthokine process is not approved for use in the United States.* The US ban has to do with blood manipulation and blood storage.

PLATELET RICH PLASMA, OR REGENOKINE?

PRP injection is a treatment method in which high concentrations of endogenous (your own) platelets are delivered to a specific area of injury in order to stimulate your body’s natural healing response. During the procedure your blood is drawn and placed in a centrifuge to separate the platelet rich plasma from the rest of your blood. This plasma is then injected using ultrasound guidance.

Here lies a crucial difference in the treatment methods.

Both draw blood, but one draws the anti-inflammatory portion, one draws the pro-inflammatory portion. Clearly the two treatments can never be combined.

Regenokine attacks the interleukin-1 (IL-1) inflammation producing system. As a joint continues deeper into a degenerative state, the immune system produces more interleukin-1 to break down dead, dying, diseased tissue to clear the way for new tissue. However, in degenerative joint or disc disease, the immune system can be destroying more tissue that the body can create to replace it. The immune system is destroying cartilage your body needs.

By contrast PRP contains healing agents, or “growth factors.” Let’s look at some of the growth factors and what they do:

  • Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a protein that helps control cell growth and division, especially blood vessels. When more blood (and the oxygen it carries) is delivered to the site of a wound, there is more healing.
  • Transforming growth factor beta (or TGF-β) is a polypeptide and is important in tissue regeneration.
  • Insulin-like growth factors are signaling agents. They help change the environment of the damaged joint from diseased to healing by “signaling” the immune system to start rebuilding tissue.
  • Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important protein that brings healing oxygen to damaged tissue where blood circulation might be damaged or inadequate.
  • Epidermal growth factor plays a key role in tissue repair mechanisms.

The PRP is also working to remove dead dying tissue and reduce an overactive immune system from breaking down too much cartilage. BUT, the PRP is also creating new tissue simultaneously.

Stem cell therapy also works in the capacity of removing dead tissue, shutting down an overactive immune breakdown system. It also works by bringing stem cells into a damaged area to facilitate a quicker and somewhat more powerful healing response.