Repeated cultured epidermal allografts in the treatment of chronic leg ulcers of various origins.
Twelve patients with 16 leg ulcers, existing for at least 3 months and not responsive to conventional inpatient therapy of at least 3 weeks, were treated with repeated applications of cultured allogenic keratinocyte sheets. A marked decrease in size was seen in all ulcers but 2. Complete closure of the ulcer was seen in 62% of the ulcers within 8 weeks. Healing was due to enhanced granulation and increased epithelialization, starting from the periphery of the wound. This edge effect suggests that the epidermal allografts act by stimulation of migration and/or multiplication of the acceptor's keratinocytes, rather than by take of the allograft.
Beele
H
H
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Gent, Belgium.
Naeyaert
J M
JM
Goeteyn
M
M
De Mil
M
M
Kint
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014945:Wound Healing