title: Oral treatment of pressure ulcers with polaprezinc (zinc L-carnosine complex): 8-week open-label trial.
abstract: Polaprezinc (zinc L-carnosine complex) is a tablet commonly prescribed for gastric ulcers in Japan. Recently, we reported the effects of polaprezinc on pressure ulcer healing at 4-week follow-up. We aimed to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of polaprezinc in 8-week treatment for chronic pressure ulcers. Patients with stage II-IV pressure ulcers for ≥ 8 weeks received 150 mg/day polaprezinc (containing 116 mg L-carnosine and 34 mg zinc) per os for a maximum of 8 weeks. We measured the severity of pressure ulcers weekly using the Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) score and monitored blood biochemistry. Fourteen patients (nine men; 68.4 ± 11.8 years) were enrolled. Pressure ulcer stages were II (one patient; 7 %), III (nine; 64 %), and IV (four; 29 %). The PUSH score improved significantly from 8.1 [95 % CI, 6.0-10.3] at baseline to -1.4 [-4.0 to 1.1] after 8 weeks (P < 0.001). Differences from baseline were significant after 1 week (P < 0.05). The mean weekly improvement in PUSH score was 2.0. Eleven patients healed within 8 weeks and none dropped out. Serum zinc levels increased significantly (P < 0.001), whereas serum copper levels (P = 0.001) and copper/zinc ratios (P < 0.001) decreased significantly. In one patient, preexisting copper deficiency deteriorated. These preliminary data suggest that polaprezinc may be effective and well-tolerated in 8-week treatment of pressure ulcers and could be a candidate for their oral treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Environmental Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishishimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8461, Japan.
authors.forename: Kensaku
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakae
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yanagisawa
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002336:Carnosine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000378:metabolism; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011228:Prealbumin; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C061957:polaprezinc; D003300:Copper; D002336:Carnosine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015032:Zinc