Rapid healing of sickle cell leg ulcers treated with collagen dressing

Chronic leg ulcers in sickle cell anemia occur mainly around the ankles. The prevalence is up to 75% in adults. These ulcers are painful and debilitating, yet medical treatment is unsuccessful. Surgical treatment consists of repeated skin grafting procedures, which eventually deplete the patient's available donor sites. Thus, in vitro generation of human epidermal autograft for potential treatment of leg ulcers in sickle cell anemia was initiated. However, because epidermal cells need a supporting matrix in order to be applied to the ulcer, the authors decided to assess the independent effect of a collagen matrix alone in promoting healing of sickle cell leg ulcers. Collistat (Hellistex, Inc) dressing was applied directly to the ulcers. The ulcers were reviewed every 2 weeks, and the dressing reapplied every 4 weeks. Collagen matrix caused the chronic ulcers to heal completely in fewer than 3 months. This encouraging performance of collagen alone should be greatly enhanced by the in vitro epidermal autograft.