Effectiveness of oral platelet lysate gel to treat oral mucosal manifestations associated with chronic graft versus host disease.

Abstract

Background: Chronic graft-vs-host disease (cGvHD) is a severe immune-mediated complication that affects patients following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Oral manifestations of cGvHD, such as ulcers and mucosal inflammation, significantly impair quality of life and often require long-term treatment. Existing therapies provide limited relief, prompting the exploration of new approaches, including the use of autologous platelet lysate (PL) gel for its regenerative properties.

Materials and methods: This observational study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of a topical autologous PL gel in treating oral ulcers associated with cGvHD in seven patients who had undergone allo-HSCT for hematological malignancies. The PL gel was prepared by mixing autologous PL with a gel base under aseptic conditions, and patients applied the gel three times daily. Clinical assessments, including the severity of oral damage and pain levels, were conducted using the NIH-CTCAE scale.

Results: Of the seven patients treated, five completed the study with a median follow-up of 20 months. Significant reductions in oral damage severity and pain levels were observed, with a p-value of 0.0495 for symptom severity and 0.0196 for pain reduction. The average adherence rate was 81.4%, and no adverse effects were reported.

Discussion: The study demonstrated that autologous PL gel is a promising and well-tolerated treatment for oral manifestations of cGvHD, offering significant symptom relief. Despite the small sample size, these findings align with previous studies and support further research into PL gel as a therapeutic option in cGvHD management.