The treatment of venous leg ulcers: a new therapeutic use of iloprost.
BACKGROUND
We conducted a study using an intravenous (i.v.) infusion of iloprost in the treatment of venous ulcers to verify whether the association of i.v. iloprost + local therapy + elastic compression has a favorable effect when compared with traditional treatment with local therapy and elastic compression.


METHODS
We evaluated the effects of iloprost in 98 consecutive patients with noncomplicated venous ulcers of lower limbs subdivided into 2 groups: the first group (48 patients) received iloprost in saline solution for 3 weeks and the second group (50 patients) received a venous infusion of a saline solution. The patients were examined at baseline time 0 (first visit) and then after 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 135, and 150 days.


RESULTS
In the first group, after 90 days, all the ulcers had healed, whereas in the second group only 50% of ulcers had healed after 105 days. At the end of the study, in the second group only 84.09% of ulcers had healed. The statistical analysis showed a significant difference between the first (iloprost group) and the second group (placebo group). Besides, in the first group the cicatrization of the ulcer happened in a shorter period (27.90% after 60 days; 41.86% after 75 days; and 100% after 100 days) whereas in the second group, at the end of the study, in 15.91% of patients the ulcers had not recovered.


CONCLUSIONS
Iloprost can significantly reduce healing time for venous leg ulcers through several actions.
Ferrara
Filippo
F
Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular and Nephro-Urogical Diseases, University Medical Hospital, Palermo, Italy. f_ferrara@virgilio.it
Meli
Francesco
F
Raimondi
Francesco
F
Amato
Corrado
C
Bonura
Francesca
F
Mulè
Giuseppe
G
Novo
Giuseppina
G
Novo S
Salvatore
S
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003646:Debridement; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016285:Iloprost / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D053828:Stockings, Compression; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D016285:Iloprost