Triterpenes for Well-Balanced Scar Formation in Superficial Wounds.
Triterpenes are demonstrably effective for accelerating re-epithelialisation of wounds and known to improve scar formation for superficial lesions. Among the variety of triterpenes, betuline is of particular medical interest. Topical betuline gel (TBG) received drug approval in 2016 from the European Commission as the first topical therapeutic agent with the proven clinical benefit of accelerating wound healing. Two self-conducted randomized intra-individual comparison clinical studies with a total of 220 patients involved in TBG treatment of skin graft surgical wounds have been screened for data concerning the aesthetic aspect of wound healing. Three months after surgery wound treatment with TBG resulted in about 30% of cases with more discreet scars, and standard of care in about 10%. Patients themselves appreciate the results of TBG after 3 months even more (about 50%) compared to standard of care (about 10%). One year after surgery, the superiority of TBG counts for about 25% in comparison with about 10%, and from the patients' point of view, for 25% compared to 4% under standard of care. In the majority of wound treatment cases, there is no difference visible between TBG treatment and standard of care after 1 year of scar formation. However, in comparison, TBG still offers a better chance for discreet scars and therefore happens to be superior in good care of wounds.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Plastic Surgery, Greifswald University Medicine, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str. DZ 7, Greifswald 17475, Germany. kindlers@uni-greifswald.de.
Stefan
S
Kindler
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Plastic Surgery, Greifswald University Medicine, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str. DZ 7, Greifswald 17475, Germany. schusterm@uni-greifswald.de.
Matthias
M
Schuster
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Plastic Surgery, Greifswald University Medicine, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str. DZ 7, Greifswald 17475, Germany. seebauerc@uni-greifswald.de.
Christian
C
Seebauer
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Plastic Surgery, Greifswald University Medicine, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str. DZ 7, Greifswald 17475, Germany. rutkowskir@uni-greifswald.de.
Rico
R
Rutkowski
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Plastic Surgery, Greifswald University Medicine, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str. DZ 7, Greifswald 17475, Germany. anna.hauschild@uni-greifswald.de.
Anna
A
Hauschild
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Plastic Surgery, Greifswald University Medicine, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str. DZ 7, Greifswald 17475, Germany. podmelle@uni-greifswald.de.
Fred
F
Podmelle
Department of Anesthesiology, Anesthesia, Intensive Care-, Emergency- and Pain Medicine, Greifswald University Medicine, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., Greifswald 17475, Germany. metelmannb@uni-greifswald.de.
Camilla
C
Metelmann
Department of Anesthesiology, Anesthesia, Intensive Care-, Emergency- and Pain Medicine, Greifswald University Medicine, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., Greifswald 17475, Germany. metelmannc@uni-greifswald.de.
Bibiana
B
Metelmann
Department of Surgery, Greifswald University Medicine, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., Greifswald 17475, Germany. charlotte.mueller-debus@uni-greifswald.de.
Charlotte
C
Müller-Debus
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Plastic Surgery, Greifswald University Medicine, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str. DZ 7, Greifswald 17475, Germany. metelman@uni-greifswald.de.
Hans-Robert
HR
Metelmann
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Plastic Surgery, Greifswald University Medicine, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str. DZ 7, Greifswald 17475, Germany. metelmann@uni-greifswald.de.
Isabella
I
Metelmann
D000287:Administration, Topical; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000072836:Surgical Wound / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D000094062:Betulinic Acid
D014315:Triterpenes; C002503:betulin; D000094062:Betulinic Acid
acceleration of healing; aesthetic benefit; scar formation; topical betuline gel; triterpene; wound care