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Role of Alpha-2-Microglobulin in the Treatment of Osteoarthritic Knee Pain: a Brief Review of the Literature

  • Hot Topics in Pain and Headache (N. Rosen, Section Editor)
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A Correction to this article was published on 08 February 2020

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Chronic knee pain remains a debilitating condition that remains difficult to manage. The purpose of this review, therefore, is to summarize current understanding of alpha-2-microglobulin in the treatment of osteoarthritic knee pain. Furthermore, we investigate its role in the anti-inflammatory properties of platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

Recent Findings

Alpha-2-microglobulin, a 720-kD protein complex, is an active protease inhibitor with tremendous anti-inflammatory properties in animal models. A growing body of evidence suggests that this complex is the most instrumental factor for cartilage preservation in PRP injections.

Summary

As an active component of platelet-rich plasma’s anti-inflammatory properties, alpha-2-microglobulin has been shown to be an active inhibitor of joint degeneration, cartilage preservation, and improvement in quality of life for patients with knee osteoarthritis compared with a multitude of other modalities.

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Change history

  • 08 February 2020

    The original publication listed author Alan Kaye as “A. Kaye,” but his name should read “A.D. Kaye.” The correct author name is presented in this article.

  • 08 February 2020

    The original publication listed author Alan Kaye as ���A. Kaye,��� but his name should read ���A.D. Kaye.��� The correct author name is presented in this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Vwaire Orhurhu, Ivan Urits & Jatinder Gill

  2. Department of Anesthesiology, Mount Sinai Medical Center of Florida, Miami, FL, USA

    Ruben Schwartz & Jacqueline Peck

  3. Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA

    Jacob Potts

  4. Departments of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Mariam Salisu Orhurhu

  5. Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Division of Pain, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Charles Odonkor

  6. Valley Anesthesiology and Pain Consultants, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Omar Viswanath

  7. Department of Anesthesiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Omar Viswanath

  8. Department of Anesthesiology, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE, USA

    Omar Viswanath

  9. Department of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Alan Kaye

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  1. Vwaire Orhurhu
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Correspondence to Vwaire Orhurhu.

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Orhurhu, V., Schwartz, R., Potts, J. et al. Role of Alpha-2-Microglobulin in the Treatment of Osteoarthritic Knee Pain: a Brief Review of the Literature. Curr Pain Headache Rep 23, 82 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-019-0822-9

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