Treatment of 100 chronic thalassemic leg wounds by plasma-rich platelets.
OBJECTIVE
Thalassemia is a heterogeneous group of congenital hemoglobinopathies caused by mutations in the globin gene complex that result in an unbalanced globin synthesis. Unmatched globin chains bind to the cytosolic surface of red blood cell membrane where they cause oxidative damage that might in part be responsible for membrane weakness. The deformability of red blood cells and hypercoagulable state in thalassemic patients have been incriminated in leg ulcer formation, as this might cause ischemia to the skin and consequently friability and ulceration.


METHODS
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) gel is considered an advanced wound therapy for chronic and acute wounds. PRP gel consists of cytokines, growth factors, chemokines, and a fibrin scaffold derived from a patient's blood. In this study, we treated 100 thalassemic leg wounds using PRP.


RESULTS
There was wound size reduction in patients after 4 weeks of treatment. In wounds with 2-3.5 cm2surface area, complete closure happened after 12.5 weeks, 5-12 cm2wounds completely closed after 13.2 weeks, and finally, 4.5-6 cm2wounds healed completely after 14 weeks. None of the wounds reopened after 8 months of monitoring.


CONCLUSIONS
This study will help extrapolation of the use of PRP for at least thalassemic leg wound treatment.
Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization, Zafar Clinic, Tehran, Iran.
Hojjat
H
Afradi
Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization, Zafar Clinic, Tehran, Iran.
Yassaman
Y
Saghaei
Department of Medical Genetics, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Zohre A
ZA
Kachoei
Department of Medical Genetics, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Vahid
V
Babaei
Department of Medical Genetics, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.|Department of Infectious Diseases, Pediatrics Infectious Diseases Research Center, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Shahram
S
Teimourian
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000150:complications*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing