title: The vegetal biomembrane in the healing of chronic venous ulcers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The vegetal biomembrane has been used to treat cutaneous ulcers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the role of the vegetal biomembrane on the chronic venous ulcers treatment compared to treatment with collagenase cream.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen patients were selected to be treated with vegetal biomembrane and 7 with Fibrase(®) (CONTROL), followed clinically and photographically by the Wound Healing Index by ImageJ during 120 days and biopsied on the 1(st) and 30(th) days for histological examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The vegetal biomembrane was better in promoting healing of the ulcers, especially on the inflammatory phase, confirmed by abundant exudation and wound debridement than the CONTROL group, on the 30th day. There was a greater tendency to angiogenesis followed by re-epithelialization with highest wound healing index on the 90(th) and 120(th) days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A combined analysis of clinical and histopathological findings suggests that the vegetal biomembrane acted as a factor inducing wound healing, especially on the inflammatory phase, confirmed by abundant exudation of the lesions promoting the transformation of the microenvironment of the chronic venous ulcers, and also stimulating angiogenesis and subsequent re-epithelialization.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil. mandrey@fmrp.usp.br
authors.forename: Marco Andrey Cipriani
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Frade
authors.forename: Raimunda Violante Campos de
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Assis
authors.forename: Joaquim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coutinho Netto
authors.forename: Thiago Antônio Moretti de
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Norma Tiraboschi
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Foss
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017364:Collagenases / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D028482:Hevea; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations; D017364:Collagenases