Platelet Rich Plasma: Efficacy in Treating Trophic Ulcers in Leprosy

A case series of platelet rich plasma in chronic venous ulcers

INTRODUCTION

Venous ulcers are the most common type of leg wounds (80%) and the main cause is chronic venous insufficiency. Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a potential wound healing treatment due to its great variety of growth factors. The aim of this study was to describe in a case series the results of poor-leukocyte PRP (P-PRP) or saline for the treatment of chronic non-healing ulcers of the lower extremity.

METHODS

Eight patients were treated according to the topical therapy: saline solution or P-PRP gel. All patients used double compression stocks and were assisted by a vascular practitioner for up to 12 months or until wound healing. The treatment was performed weekly with cleaning of the affected area, macroscopic evaluation (area measurement and photos) and P-PRP or saline application, and closure with Tegaderm®. Trial Registration: Retrospectively approved by Brazilian Clinical Trials, register number RBR-7zhgb3 (http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-7zhgb3/).

RESULTS

All patients showed signs of wound healing with a reduction in wound size and ulcer numbers, but more evident with P-PRP application.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggested that P-PRP presented a better result when compared to saline solution in the healing process of long clinical course chronic venous ulcers, when associated to compressive stocks and topical care.

A cross-sectional analysis of the effects of various centrifugation speeds and inclusion of the buffy coat in platelet-rich plasma preparation

INTRODUCTION

Platelet-rich plasma is an autologous blood preparation which is used in various medical specialties because of its regenerative properties. There is a wide variation in platelet-rich plasma preparation protocols and attaining the ideal platelet yield (>1 million platelets/μL) in a clinic setting can be challenging. We aimed at analyzing the centrifuge spin rates at which to attain an ideal platelet-rich plasma yield and also to study the effect of inclusion of the buffy coat after the first spin on the final platelet concentration in platelet-rich plasma.

METHODS

Seventy-five whole blood samples were obtained and divided into two groups - (1) leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma group and (2) leukocyte-poor platelet-rich plasma group. Samples in both groups were centrifuged using the dual spin method, at one of three centrifugation speed combinations (initial "soft" spin and second "hard" spin speeds, respectively): (1) 100 g/400 g, (2) 350 g/1350 g and (3) 900 g/1800 g. Platelet, red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts in both groups were compared.

RESULTS

The 100 g/400 g spin gave a high platelet yield (increase of 395.4 ± 111.1%) in the leukocyte-poor-platelet-rich plasma group, while in the leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma group both 100 g/400 g and 350 g/1350 g spins resulted in significantly higher yields with an increase of 691.5 ± 316.3% and 738.6 ± 193.3%, respectively.

LIMITATIONS

The study was limited by a smaller sample size in the pure platelet-rich plasma (leukocyte-poor platelet-rich plasma) group.

CONCLUSION

Ideal platelet yields can be achieved with both the 100 g/400 g as well as the 350 g/1350 g spins using the buffy coat inclusion method while the 100 g/400 g spin for "pure" platelet-rich plasma accomplishes a near-ideal platelet count with significantly reduced contamination with other cells.

Platelet-Rich Plasma: The Journey so Far !

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous blood product, obtained after blood centrifugation. PRP is rich in growth factors which promote tissue-healing, alter angiogenesis, and possess versatile immunomodulatory effects, in the relative absence of any significant demonstrable adverse effects. Consequently, PRP has found application in multiple specialities in recent years, including dermatology. A literature search was performed on PubMed, Medline database, and Google Scholar, using keywords like platelet-rich plasma (PRP), platelet-concentrated plasma, platelet-rich growth factors, autologous platelet concentrate. Relevant studies were selected, and data was analyzed following extraction. Studies show that PRP has not only been used as an adjunctive modality but has been employed as a stand-alone therapy as well. Multiple authors have reported PRP to be efficacious in disparate dermatological conditions, like alopecia, skin rejuvenation, healing of refractory cutaneous ulcers, and even acne scar management. The strongest evidence so far has been demonstrated in androgenetic alopecia and facial skin rejuvenation. However, routine use in dermatological conditions is hampered by the relative paucity of high-quality evidence and large randomized studies. Furthermore, PRP composition and preparation methods are not yet standardized and even the treatment regimens proposed too vary widely. The present review provides a bird's eye view of the evidence available so far regarding the use of PRP in dermatology. The review focusses more on recent prospective studies, including randomized trials and tries to summarize the evidence in a brief, but comprehensive manner.

Comorbidities associated with non- healing of plantar ulcers in leprosy patients

BACKGROUND

Non-healing plantar ulcers are one of the significant causes of disability in leprosy patients. Plantar ulcers often take months or years to heal, affecting the patient's quality of life. Presence of comorbid conditions in these patients can delay wound healing. The study aimed to evaluate the role of associated comorbid conditions as risk factors in ulcer healing.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

A total of 66 leprosy patients with plantar ulcers registered at LEPRA Society-Blue Peter Public Health and Research Center (BPHRC), Hyderabad, India from June 2018 to June 2019 were studied. Comprehensive clinical assessment was done, including screening for comorbid conditions and treated as per the recommended guidelines. About two-thirds of the participants were aged 50 and above, of which more than half were illiterates, and 93.5% were living below the poverty line. Majority of ulcers were seen on the forefoot; with the head of meta-tarsal bone 27 (41.6%) as the commonest site, followed by calcaneum 23 (38.3%) and great toe 10 (16.6%). Mean ulcer depth was 0.61 (0.57) cm, the area was 5.24 (6.73) cm2 and ulcer volume was 4.72 (14.33) cm3. Ulcer dimensions were significantly associated with low body mass index, hypertension and smoking.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

Identifying the risk factors delaying wound healing and detailed assessment of ulcers are of profound importance to predict the outcome of plantar ulcers in leprosy patients. The study findings indicate the need for better policies by the leprosy control program for the comprehensive management of plantar ulcers.

Effective Healing of Leprosy Chronic Plantar Ulcers by Application of Human Amniotic Membrane Stem Cell Secretome Gel

Background:

Chronic plantar ulcers are common problems for leprosy patients with numb feet due to their prolonged healing time. Chronic plantar ulcers affect the quality of life of patients and can lead to more serious complications, such as disability and deformity, if not handled appropriately. Wound-care products in the market, however, give unsatisfactory results. One factor in the delayed healing of chronic plantar ulcers due to leprosy is the lack of growth factors and cytokines in the wound due to reduced blood supply. We speculated that application of human amniotic membrane stem cell (hAMSC) secretome, which contains growth factors and cytokines, could improve wound healing.

Aim:

To evaluate the effect of topical application of a hAMSC secretome gel on wound healing of chronic plantar ulcers due to leprosy.

Materials and Methods:

We recruited 11 patients after leprosy treatment with chronic plantar ulcers due to leprosy. hAMSC secretome gel was applied topically to ulcers every 3 days for up to 2 months. Ulcer size and possible side effects or complications from gel application were evaluated weekly.

Results:

The ulcers of 8 of 11 patients (72.7%) completely healed, the ulcers of 2 patients (18.2%) partially healed, and the ulcers of 1 patient (9.1%) persisted. No ulcers became worse.

Conclusion:

hAMSC secretome was found to be an efficacious and well-tolerated alternative therapy for chronic plantar ulcers due to leprosy.

Integrated Management of Skin NTDs-Lessons Learned from Existing Practice and Field Research

Integration of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) into the public health agenda has been a priority in global health for the last decade. Because a number of these diseases share not only the geographical distribution, but also a common feature which is skin involvement, bringing together a sub-group of 'skin NTDs' is one way forward to promote further integration among NTDs. With these diseases, which include leprosy, Buruli ulcer, yaws, mycetoma, lymphatic filariasis, and leishmaniasis, patients may be left with life-long deformities and disabilities when diagnosis and treatment are delayed. Stigma is another serious consequence of skin NTDs as it places a large barrier on the economic activities and social life of a patient. As a result, this creates a vicious cycle and obstructs a key goal of society, the elimination of poverty. Enhancement in surveillance systems as well as the further development of diagnostic methods, improvement in treatment and management, and identification of preventative measures for skin NTDs are therefore urgently needed. This article summarizes the existing practices and field research on skin NTDs and identifies potential synergies that could be achieved by adopting this integrated approach.