The use of autologous platelet gel to treat difficult-to-heal wounds: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Chronic ulcers can benefit from topical treatment with growth factors (GFs). PLT gel provides tissue regeneration-inducing GFs. The aim of this study was to verify the effectiveness of autologous PLT gel in the treatment of nonhealing skin lesions.


METHODS
PLT gel was produced by treating PLTs with autologous thrombin. Two groups of patients were investigated: patients with dehiscent sternal wounds and patients with necrotic skin ulcers. Patients treated with PLT gel were retrospectively compared with patients having similar lesions but undergoing conventional treatment. The clinical endpoints of the study were the healing rate, the length of hospital stay, and/or the time required to bring about adequate tissue regeneration in order to undergo reconstructive plastic surgery.


RESULTS
In patients with treated dehiscent sternal wounds the healing rate (3.5 vs. 6.0 wks, p = 0.0002) and hospital stay (31.5 vs. 52.5 days, p < 0.0001) were significantly reduced. Patients with treated necrotic skin ulcers required a notably shorter time to have surgery (median 15.0 vs. 35.5 wks, p < 0.0001). Neither adverse reactions nor in-situ recurrences were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with chronic unhealing wounds showed substantial improvement when treated with PLT gel lesion dressings.
Mazzucco
Laura
L
Department of Haematology & Blood Transfusion Medicine, Ospedale Santi Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy.
Medici
Dante
D
Serra
Massimo
M
Panizza
Renzo
R
Rivara
Giorgio
G
Orecchia
Sara
S
Libener
Roberta
R
Cattana
Elena
E
Levis
Alessandro
A
Betta
Pier Giacomo
PG
Borzini
Piero
P
D000368:Aged; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000628:therapy*; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery; D014945:Wound Healing
D005782:Gels