title: Evaluation of treatment with carboxymethylcellulose on chronic venous ulcers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Among the chronic leg ulcers, venous ulcers are the most common and constitute a major burden to public health. Despite all technology available, some patients do not respond to established treatments. In our study, carboxymethylcellulose was tested in the treatment of refractory chronic venous ulcers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of carboxymethylcellulose 20% on the healing of chronic venous ulcers refractory to conventional treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is an analytical, pre-experimental study. Thirty patients were included with refractory venous ulcers, and applied dressings with carboxymethylcellulose 20% for 20 weeks. The analysis was based on measurement of the area of ulcers, performed at the first visit and after the end of the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a reduction of 3.9 cm2 of lesion area (p=0.0001), corresponding to 38.8% (p=0.0001). There was no interruption of treatment and no increase in lesion area in any patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Carboxymethylcellulose 20% represents a low cost and effective therapeutic alternative for the treatment of refractory chronic venous ulcers. However, controlled studies are necessary to prove its efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Januário
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Dione Augusto de
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ávila
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Alice
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Penetra
authors.affiliation: Hospital Federal dos Servidores do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Luisa Bittencourt
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Sampaio
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Noronha Neta
authors.affiliation: Hospital Federal da Lagoa, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flavia de Freire
authors.initials: Fde F
authors.lastname: Cassia
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sueli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carneiro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D058128:Compression Bandages; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium