title: Effect of amelogenin ECM protein on the healing of chronic  leg ulcers with atrophie blanche.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of topically applied amelogenin extracellular matrix protein(AEMP) in patients with non-healing venous leg ulcers combined with atrophie blanche.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective case series of patients with non-healing venous leg ulcers with atrophie blanche of the distal proportion of their lower legs, where non-healing was defined as no progress toward healing for 3 months previously, under standard therapy. Patient records were reviewed for associated diseases, wound diagnoses, distal blood pressure, previous treatments and changes in wound area. Patients were treated with AEMP once a week, for a period of 12 weeks, or until full healing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven patient records were reviewed retrospectively. The median age of the patients was 81 years (range 40-95 years), with a mean wound size of 4.7 ± 3.Scm2 and median wound duration of 6 months (range 3-444 months).AII patients had venous or combined arterial/venous insufficiency. After 12 weeks' treatment with AEMP, complete healing, defined as I 00% re-epithelialisation, was documented in four patients (36%), marked improvement(> SO% epithelialisation) in three patients (54%, 55% and 83% wound closure, respectively), slight improvement in one patient (9.4% wound closure), no change for two patients and worsening in one.AEMP was well tolerated, and no patients reported side effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this retrospective study suggest that AEMP improves healing in chronic venous leg ulcers combined with atrophie blanche.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. karsfogh@rm.dk
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fogh
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dam
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D053523:Amelogenin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D053523:Amelogenin; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins