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Stanek A, Mosti G, Nematillaevich TS, Valesky EM, Planinšek Ručigaj T, Boucelma M, Marakomichelakis G, Liew A, Fazeli B, Catalano M, Patel M. No More Venous Ulcers-What More Can We Do? J Clin Med 2023; 12:6153. [PMID: 37834797 PMCID: PMC10573394 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12196153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are the most severe complication caused by the progression of chronic venous insufficiency. They account for approximately 70-90% of all chronic leg ulcers (CLUs). A total of 1% of the Western population will suffer at some time in their lives from a VLU. Furthermore, most CLUs are VLUs, defined as chronic leg wounds that show no tendency to heal after three months of appropriate treatment or are still not fully healed at 12 months. The essential feature of VLUs is their recurrence. VLUs also significantly impact quality of life and could cause social isolation and depression. They also have a significant avoidable economic burden. It is estimated that the treatment of venous ulceration accounts for around 3% of the total expenditure on healthcare. A VLU-free world is a highly desirable aim but could be challenging to achieve with the current knowledge of the pathophysiology and diagnostic and therapeutical protocols. To decrease the incidence of VLUs, the long-term goal must be to identify high-risk patients at an early stage of chronic venous disease and initiate appropriate preventive measures. This review discusses the epidemiology, socioeconomic burden, pathophysiology, diagnosis, modes of conservative and invasive treatment, and prevention of VLUs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Stanek
- Department of Internal Medicine, Angiology and Physical Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Batorego 15 Street, 41-902 Bytom, Poland
- Vascular Independent Research and Education, European Foundation, 20157 Milan, Italy; (G.M.); (A.L.); (B.F.); (M.C.); (M.P.)
- VAS-International Consortium—International No More Venous Ulcers Strategic Network, 20157 Milan, Italy; (G.M.); (T.S.N.); (E.M.V.); (T.P.R.); (M.B.)
| | - Giovanni Mosti
- VAS-International Consortium—International No More Venous Ulcers Strategic Network, 20157 Milan, Italy; (G.M.); (T.S.N.); (E.M.V.); (T.P.R.); (M.B.)
- Angiology Department, MD Barbantini Clinic, Via del Calcio 2, 55100 Lucca, Italy
| | - Temirov Surat Nematillaevich
- VAS-International Consortium—International No More Venous Ulcers Strategic Network, 20157 Milan, Italy; (G.M.); (T.S.N.); (E.M.V.); (T.P.R.); (M.B.)
- Department of Specialized Surgery, Central Hospital of Ministry of Internal Affairs, Chimboy St. 2 A, Almazar District, Tashkent 100095, Uzbekistan
| | - Eva Maria Valesky
- VAS-International Consortium—International No More Venous Ulcers Strategic Network, 20157 Milan, Italy; (G.M.); (T.S.N.); (E.M.V.); (T.P.R.); (M.B.)
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital, Goethe University Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Tanja Planinšek Ručigaj
- VAS-International Consortium—International No More Venous Ulcers Strategic Network, 20157 Milan, Italy; (G.M.); (T.S.N.); (E.M.V.); (T.P.R.); (M.B.)
- Dermatovenereological Clinic, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Gradiskova 10 Street, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Malika Boucelma
- VAS-International Consortium—International No More Venous Ulcers Strategic Network, 20157 Milan, Italy; (G.M.); (T.S.N.); (E.M.V.); (T.P.R.); (M.B.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Algiers, Bachir Mentouri Hospital, Algiers 16208, Algeria
| | - George Marakomichelakis
- Vascular Independent Research and Education, European Foundation, 20157 Milan, Italy; (G.M.); (A.L.); (B.F.); (M.C.); (M.P.)
- VAS-International Consortium—International No More Venous Ulcers Strategic Network, 20157 Milan, Italy; (G.M.); (T.S.N.); (E.M.V.); (T.P.R.); (M.B.)
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital of Evangelismos, 16676 Athens, Greece
| | - Aaron Liew
- Vascular Independent Research and Education, European Foundation, 20157 Milan, Italy; (G.M.); (A.L.); (B.F.); (M.C.); (M.P.)
- VAS-International Consortium—International No More Venous Ulcers Strategic Network, 20157 Milan, Italy; (G.M.); (T.S.N.); (E.M.V.); (T.P.R.); (M.B.)
- Department of Medicine, Portiuncula University Hospital, University of Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland
| | - Bahar Fazeli
- Vascular Independent Research and Education, European Foundation, 20157 Milan, Italy; (G.M.); (A.L.); (B.F.); (M.C.); (M.P.)
- Support Association of Patients of Buerger’s Disease, Buerger’s Disease NGO, Mashhad 9183785195, Iran
| | - Mariella Catalano
- Vascular Independent Research and Education, European Foundation, 20157 Milan, Italy; (G.M.); (A.L.); (B.F.); (M.C.); (M.P.)
- VAS-International Consortium—International No More Venous Ulcers Strategic Network, 20157 Milan, Italy; (G.M.); (T.S.N.); (E.M.V.); (T.P.R.); (M.B.)
- Department of Biomedical, Clinical Sciences L Sacco Hospital, Inter-University Research Center on Vascular Disease, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Malay Patel
- Vascular Independent Research and Education, European Foundation, 20157 Milan, Italy; (G.M.); (A.L.); (B.F.); (M.C.); (M.P.)
- VAS-International Consortium—International No More Venous Ulcers Strategic Network, 20157 Milan, Italy; (G.M.); (T.S.N.); (E.M.V.); (T.P.R.); (M.B.)
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Apollo CVHF, Heart Institute, Ahmedabad 380059, India
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Chen L, Gao Y, Liu M, Li Q, Han C, Zhao Y, Li B, Xu J, Dai Y, Li P, Li J, Li Y, Ran X. Efficacy and safety of pentoxifylline for chronic venous leg ulcers: study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial in China (ESPECT study). Trials 2023; 24:491. [PMID: 37533132 PMCID: PMC10394857 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-023-07547-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are the most severe manifestation of chronic venous disease, with long healing time and a high recurrence rate. It imposes a heavy burden on patients, their families, and the health care system. Chronic inflammation triggered by sustained venous hypertension is now recognized as the hallmark of chronic venous disease. The anti-inflammatory effect of pentoxifylline may offer a promising avenue to treat VLUs. However, current evidence of pentoxifylline for VLUs is relatively small and of low quality. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pentoxifylline for VLUs in the Chinese population. METHODS This is a randomized, double-blinded, double-dummy, multi-center, placebo-controlled clinical trial. A total of 240 patients will be randomized to receive pentoxifylline (400 mg, twice daily) or placebo for 24 weeks. All participants will receive diosmin treatment and standard care of VLUs and other comorbidities. The primary outcome is the difference in the wound healing rate within 12 weeks between pentoxifylline and placebo. Secondary outcomes include (1) percent wound size changes at 12 weeks, (2) the levels of TNF-α and IL-6, (3) venous clinical severity score and chronic venous insufficiency quality of life score, and (4) ulcer recurrence within 24 weeks. DISCUSSION This study would evaluate the efficacy and safety of pentoxifylline for VLUs in the Chinese population. If confirmed, it wound offer another effective and safe therapeutic option for treatment of VLUs. TRIAL REGISTRATION The trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (No. ChiCTR-2100053053). Registered on 10 November, 2021, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=137010.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihong Chen
- Innovation Center for Wound Repair, Diabetic Foot Care Center, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37 Guo Xue Lane, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yun Gao
- Innovation Center for Wound Repair, Diabetic Foot Care Center, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37 Guo Xue Lane, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Ming Liu
- Department of Peripheral Vascular Disease, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250014, China
| | - Qiu Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan, 250021, China
| | - Chunmao Han
- Department of Burn and Wound Repair, The Second Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Yue Zhao
- Department of Vascular Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, China
| | - Binghui Li
- Department of Wound Repair, LiYuan Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430077, China
| | - Jun Xu
- Department of Diabetic Podiatry, Zhu Xianyi Memorial Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Yan Dai
- Innovation Center for Wound Repair, Diabetic Foot Care Center, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37 Guo Xue Lane, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Pei Li
- CSPC Ouyi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shijiazhuang, 052160, China
| | - Jianli Li
- CSPC Ouyi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shijiazhuang, 052160, China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- CSPC Ouyi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shijiazhuang, 052160, China
| | - Xingwu Ran
- Innovation Center for Wound Repair, Diabetic Foot Care Center, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37 Guo Xue Lane, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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Balazic E, Axler E, Konisky H, Khanna U, Kobets K. Pentoxifylline in dermatology. J Cosmet Dermatol 2023; 22:410-417. [PMID: 36208009 DOI: 10.1111/jocd.15445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pentoxifylline was initially marketed for use in patients with intermittent claudication due to chronic occlusive arterial disease of the extremities but has since been shown to have several off-label uses in dermatology. AIMS The aim of this review is to increase awareness of the several applications of pentoxifylline in the field of dermatology. METHODS A comprehensive PubMed search was conducted in May 2022 using the following phrases "dermatology" AND "pentoxifylline." Our search period spanned 34 years from 1988 to 2022. All available literature was reviewed. Reference lists of identified articles were included. Studies were excluded if they were not in English and if the study was out of scope. Eighty-one articles were included in this review. RESULTS Pentoxifylline has been used to treat various dermatological conditions including peripheral vascular disease, vasculitis and vasculopathies, chilblains, pigmented purpuric dermatosis, granuloma annulare, necrobiosis, keloids, lichen sclerosis et atrophicus, scars, radiation-induced fibrosis, vitiligo, alopecia areata, leishmaniasis, and leprosy. CONCLUSIONS Pentoxifylline's use in dermatology is growing. However, there are limited larger studies and randomized control trials on the use of pentoxifylline in dermatology and more investigation is needed to evaluate its use for many dermatologic conditions. Pentoxifylline's unique mechanism of action as well as its good tolerability, cost-effectiveness, and minimal drug interactions make it a convenient primary or adjunctive option in many dermatological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza Balazic
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Eden Axler
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Hailey Konisky
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Urmi Khanna
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Kseniya Kobets
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
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