Is PRP Therapy a Good Option for Ankylosing Spondylitis?
If you’re living with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), you’ve probably already tried a few different treatments to manage your pain and stiffness. You may have also heard about platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy as a newer, “regenerative” option and wondered if it could help you too.
As a Chicago Rheumatologist and regenerative medicine physician, this is one of the most common questions patients ask me. Here’s an honest, patient-friendly breakdown of what PRP is, what the research shows, and who is actually a good candidate.
What Is Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Ankylosing spondylitis is not just “back pain.” It’s a systemic autoimmune condition, meaning it can cause inflammation throughout your entire body — not just in one spot.
AS commonly affects:
- The spine and sacroiliac (SI) joints
- Other joints, such as hips, knees, or shoulders
- Tendons (especially the Achilles tendon)
- Other organ systems, including the eyes, lungs, and cardiovascular system
It’s also not unusual for AS to occur alongside other autoimmune conditions, including those that cause inflammation in the gut.
Because AS is a whole-body disease, treating it usually requires more than a local, joint-by-joint approach.
What Is PRP Therapy?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a regenerative medicine treatment that uses your own blood to help support healing in an injured or irritated area.
Here’s how it works:
- A small sample of your blood is drawn.
- The blood is processed to concentrate the platelets.
- The platelet-rich plasma is injected directly into the affected joint, tendon, or tissue.
PRP has been used successfully for joint pain, tendon injuries, and even some spine-related conditions.
What Does the Research Say About PRP for Ankylosing Spondylitis?
There have been smaller clinical trials comparing PRP injections to steroid injections for sacroiliitis — inflammation of the SI joint that is common in AS.
Key findings from these trials:
- Patients receiving PRP tended to experience longer-lasting relief compared to steroid injections.
- These results are consistent with what we see when PRP is used in other joints and tendons throughout the body.
- It’s worth noting these studies were relatively small and not placebo-controlled, meaning patients knew which treatment they were receiving.
Even with those limitations, the results are encouraging — especially for a condition where treatment options are sometimes limited.
Is PRP the Right Choice for You? A Rheumatologist’s Perspective
This is where individualized care matters most. As someone who treats both autoimmune disease and regenerative medicine patients daily, here is my general approach:
When I Typically Recommend a Biologic Agent Instead
If ankylosing spondylitis is affecting multiple joints or your spine broadly, I usually recommend treating the underlying systemic inflammation first — often with a biologic medication. This is because:
- AS can silently affect other organs, including the eyes, lungs, and heart
- Controlling the overall inflammation helps protect your long-term health, not just your joint pain
- A localized treatment like PRP won’t address disease activity happening elsewhere in the body
When PRP May Be a Reasonable Option
PRP therapy may be a better fit in more limited situations, such as:
- Contraindications to biologics — due to other medical conditions, side effect concerns, or personal preference
- Lower overall disease burden — for example, someone with one inflamed SI joint and no other significant AS-related issues
- Isolated tendon problems — such as chronic Achilles tendonitis without widespread joint involvement
In these more targeted cases, PRP can offer meaningful relief without the need for a broader systemic treatment.
The Bottom Line
PRP therapy can be a valuable tool for calming a chronically irritated joint or tendon — but it is not a replacement for treating the whole-body inflammation that comes with ankylosing spondylitis.
The best approach depends on:
- How many joints or areas are affected
- Whether other organ systems are involved
- Your personal health history and treatment preferences
Talk to a Chicago Rheumatologist About Your Options
Every case of ankylosing spondylitis is different, and the right treatment plan should be based on a full evaluation of your condition — not a one-size-fits-all approach.
If you’re dealing with joint pain, chronic inflammation, or an autoimmune condition like ankylosing spondylitis, our team specializes in both rheumatology care and regenerative medicine treatments, including PRP therapy, to help you find lasting relief.
👉 Learn more or schedule a consultation today at ChicagoArthritis.com.
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