Biostimulation of venous chronic ulcers with platelet-rich plasma gel and biocompatible membranes of chitosan and alginate: A pilot study

Abstract

Venous ulcers are a common disease caused by circulatory insufficiency, having as characteristics slow healing and therefore a difficult treatment. Consequently, this disease has a high impact at personal, professional and social levels, representing large costs for both patients and healthcare system. The aim of the present pilot study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an alternative treatment for this specific type of wound, based on the use of autologous platelet-rich plasma gel (PRP) combined with biocompatible porous membranes produced with the polysaccharides chitosan (C) and alginate (A). The applicability, security and healing efficacy of this treatment was evaluated in four patients suffering from venous ulcers with an at least 6-month of evolution that did not heal after conventional treatments. The clinical evolution analysis during the treatment was performed by periodic measurement of the lesions area for an average of 5.4 months. The results attained showed that the use of this treatment led to completed reduction in the ulcers area as well as to pain decrease. Hence, the combination between autologous PRP gel and chitosan-alginate (CA) porous membranes could be a useful alternative to treat chronic skin ulcers in humans.