title: Low molecular weight heparin improves healing of chronic venous ulcers especially in the elderly.
abstract: Venous ulcers are common, especially in the elderly, accounting for more than 50% of all lower extremity ulcers with important socioeconomic problems. Improving extracellular matrix functioning, by heparin administration, seems to be a way to support wound healing. A total of 284 patients with venous ulcers were recruited in a 4-year period. All patients were subjected to the most appropriate treatment after considering their preference (compression therapy followed or not by vein surgery). Patients were randomised into two groups of 142 persons in each (group A and group B as cases and controls, respectively). Patients of group A, in addition to the basic treatment as described earlier, received administration of nadroparin 2850 IU/0.3 ml through subcutaneous injection once a day for 12 months, whereas group B patients received basic treatment alone. Healing was assessed by means of direct ulcer tracing with computerised planimetry. Group A showed a healing rate of 83·80% at 12 months, whereas that of group B was 60·56%. Results by age group surprisingly showed that the group of older patients took the most advantage from long-term treatment with low molecular weight heparin; this group also had lowest recurrence rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Science, University Magna Gracia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Località Germaneto, Catanzaro, 88100, Italy; Interuniversity Center of Phlebolymphology, International Research and Educational Program in Clinical and Experimental Biotechnology, University Magna Gracia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Località Germaneto, Catanzaro, 88100, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buffone
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Molinari
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Montemurro
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perri
authors.forename: Domenico M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Stillitano
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Franciscis
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017762:Nadroparin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D017762:Nadroparin
keywords: Chronic venous disease; Chronic venous leg ulcers; Elderly; Low molecular weight heparin; Wound healing