Evaluation and treatment of leg ulcers associated with chronic venous insufficiency

microRNA-301a-3p is a potential biomarker in venous ulcers vein and gets involved in endothelial cell dysfunction

Venous ulcer is a common contributor to chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) of lower limbs, which seriously affects the life quality of patients. In this study, we researched the expression characteristics of microRNA-301a-3p (miR-301a-3p) in patients with CVI and investigated the impact of miR-301a-3p on the dysfunction of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The plasma level of miR-301a-3p in normal controls, patients with varicose great saphenous vein, and patients with the venous ulcer of lower limbs were measured. We adopted Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), H2O2, and oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) to induce endothelial cell injury in vitro. In this way, we evaluated the influence of miR-301a-3p on HUVEC viability, apoptosis, inflammatory response, and oxidative stress. Our data showed that miR-301a-3p was substantially overexpressed in patients with lower limb venous ulcers. The viability of HUVECs decreased, and miR-301a-3p was up-regulated after IL-1β, H2O2, and OGD treatment. miR-301a-3p inhibition greatly ameliorated the dysfunction and cell damage of HUVECs, promoted IGF1/PI3K/Akt/PPARγ, and down-regulated NF-κB/MMPs. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor (LY294002) or the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) inhibitor (GW9661) reversed the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic effects mediated by miR-301a-3p down-regulation. The nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibitor lessened cell injury mediated by miR-301a-3p overexpression. In terms of the mechanism, miR-301a-3p targeted the 3'UTR of Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) and repressed the profile of IGF1. Thus, miR-301a-3p mediates venous endothelial cell damage by targeting IGF1 and regulating the IGF1/PI3K/Akt/PPARγ/NF-κB/MMPs pathway.

Autologous platelet-rich plasma for healing chronic venous leg ulcers: Clinical efficacy and potential mechanisms

The overall quality of evidence of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for treating chronic wounds remains low. While further well-designed clinical studies are clearly required to convincingly demonstrate the efficacy of autologous PRP in improved healing of venous leg ulcers (VLUs) and other chronic wounds, there is also an increasing need to better define the underlying mechanisms of action and whether positive outcomes can be predicted based on the analysis of PRP. This brief review will discuss the current understanding of autologous PRP in VLUs and whether molecular evaluation of PRP at the time of collection could potentially be informative to clinical outcomes. Benefits of the autologous PRP treatment strategy include that PRP is easily accessible and is relatively inexpensive and safe. Better understanding of the mechanisms involved could improve treatment, enable supplementation, and/or lead to gains in product development. Analysis of PRP could also add value to future clinical trials on efficacy and potentially personalised treatment regimens.

Ozone Gas Bath Combined with Endovenous Laser Therapy for Lower Limb Venous Ulcers: A Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

Endovenous laser therapy (EVLT) is safe and effective for lower limb venous ulcers. However, severe necrosis and infection in the ulcer area are contraindications of puncture and EVLT. Local bath with ozone gas has been shown to improve the condition of ulcer areas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of ozone gas bath combined with EVLT in comparison with EVLT alone for the treatment for lower limb venous ulcers.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Ninety-two patients with venous ulcers were randomized to receive ozone gas bath combined with EVLT (OEVLT group) or EVLT alone (EVLT group). In the OEVLT group, the venous ulcers were preconditioned with ozone gas bath prior to EVLT. The minimum follow-up time was 12 months. The two groups were compared in terms of complete occlusion of the treated veins, ulcer healing ratio, ratio of ulcer recurrence, patient satisfaction, complications, and side effects.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in venous occlusion between the two groups. The ratio of ulcer healing in the OEVLT group was significantly higher than the EVLT group at 12 months follow-up. Patients in the OEVLT group showed better satisfaction and a lower recurrence ratio than the OEVLT group. No severe complications or side effects occurred in either groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Ozone gas bath combined with EVLT showed improved efficacy for the treatment of lower limb venous ulcers and lower recurrence ratio comparison with EVLT alone. This procedure is a safe and technically feasible.

Review and update on new horizon in the management of venous ulcers

Chronic venous ulcers (CVUs) contribute to functional deficits and are a source of significant morbidity among the affected population. In addition, they directly impact the quality of life of patients and are a significant economic burden on the health care system. In this review, we critically evaluate the current strategies for treating CVUs that have emerged within the last decade and outlined a suggested algorithm for treating patients with this difficult condition.

A retrospective cohort study evaluating efficacy in high-risk patients with chronic lower extremity ulcers treated with negative pressure wound therapy

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) compared with standard of care on wound healing in high-risk patients with multiple significant comorbidities and chronic lower extremity ulcers (LEUs) across the continuum of care settings. A retrospective cohort study of 'real-world' high-risk patients was conducted using Boston University Medical Center electronic medical records, along with chart abstraction to capture detailed medical history, comorbidities, healing outcomes and ulcer characteristics. A total of 342 patients, 171 NPWT patients with LEUs were matched with 171 non-NPWT patients with respect to age and gender, were included in this cohort from 2002 to 2010. The hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated by COX proportional hazard models after adjusting for potential confounders. The NPWT patients were 2·63 times (95% CI = 1·87-3·70) more likely to achieve wound closure compared with non-NPWT patients. Moreover, incidence of wound closure in NPWT patients were increased in diabetic ulcers (HR = 3·26, 95% CI = 2·21-4·83), arterial ulcers (HR = 2·27, CI = 1·56-3·78) and venous ulcers (HR = 6·31, 95% CI = 1·49-26·6) compared with non-NPWT patients. In addition, wound healing appeared to be positively affected by the timing of NPWT application. Compared with later NPWT users (1 year or later after ulcer onset), early NPWT users (within 3 months after ulcer onset) and intermediate NPWT users (4-12 months after ulcer onset) were 3·38 and 2·18 times more likely to achieve wound healing, respectively. This study showed that despite the greater significant comorbidities, patients receiving NPWT healed faster. Early use of NPWT demonstrated better healing. The longer the interval before intervention is with NPWT, the higher the correlation is with poor outcome.

Venous leg ulcerations: a treatment update

OPINION STATEMENT

Selecting the appropriate treatment for venous leg ulcerations is essential for optimal wound healing and patient quality of life. Compression therapy remains the mainstay of treatment for these wounds. Compression methods should be carefully selected and tailored for compatibility with patients' daily life. Pain management should not be neglected. When response to compression therapy is limited, adjuvant therapy such as medication, débridement, or surgical procedures should be considered on an individual basis.

Venous Leg Ulcers and Emotional Consequences

Venous leg ulcers are a chronic disease that affects populations around the world. For sufferers, it leads to physical, social, economic, and emotional consequences. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of anxiety and depression, as well as to investigate possible associations with sociodemographic variables. A total of 30 patients, both men and women, with venous ulcers receiving care under outpatient treatment in a teaching hospital of a provincial city of São Paulo State, were included in this study. The evaluation tools used were the following: the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and a sociodemographic questionnaire that included job status, religion, marital status, gender, duration of disease, and age. A descriptive analysis of the data was performed. Statistical analysis used means, the Student t test, and the χ 2 test. Anxiety was identified in 30% of the patients and depression in 40%. No statistically significant correlation was found between anxiety or depression and the sociodemographic variables. Patients with chronic venous ulcers may present with anxiety and depression independent of socioeconomic variables such as religion, occupation, marital status, and duration of lesion.

Venous ulcers: new options in treatment: minimally invasive vein surgery

Venous disease has a spectrum of presentations. The most advanced state of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) managed by wound care specialists being ulceration of the lower extremity. The goal of all treatments for advanced venous disease is to decrease ambulatory venous hypertension. Treatment can be divided into exogenous and endogenous methods. Exogenous methods include those applied externally such as compression, elevation, debridement and wound dressings. Endogenous methods treat the underlying venous pathology either due to venous valvular dysfunction or venous obstruction leading to venous hypertension. Recently, significant advances in endogenous methods have evolved. The development of a new concept, minimally invasive vein surgery (MIVS), has improved upon traditional, open, invasive treatments of venous disease. MIVS techniques are performed percutaneously, with minimal anesthesia, no incisions and rarely require hospital admission. This article summarizes the concept of MIVS, describes each method of MIVS and its complementary role in the management of venous leg ulcers patients.

Impact of lower extremity venous ulcers due to chronic venous insufficiency on quality of life

Lower extremity venous ulcers comprise a complex medical and social issue. The conservative and/or surgical management of venous ulcers is often inadequate. In addition, the psychosocial aspect of the disease is often overlooked and most often undertreated. Common symptoms such as pain, low self-esteem and patient isolation are usually not recognized and therefore not adequately managed.This mini-review summarizes the current data on the management of lower extremity venous ulcers and their impact on the quality of life of these patients.