REGENERATION OF CHRONIC WOUNDS WITH ALLOGENEIC PLATELET GEL VERSUS HYDROGEL TREATMENT: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

- The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the new method of platelet-rich plasma activation in the form of platelet gel, used in the treatment of non-healing chronic lower leg ulcers. The study was prospectively randomized, double blind and placebo controlled. We treated 60 patients (42 males and 18 females, mean age 69.43 years, SD 14.74) with chronic lower leg ulcers of different etiologies. Thirty patients were treated with allogeneic platelet gel and 30 with hydrogel. Both groups were comparable for duration of ulcer and its size. Treatment was repeated once a week for three consecutive weeks and then the last examination was scheduled at 6 months of the first platelet gel application. The t-test was used to analyze independent samples. Healing of chronic wounds with platelet gel was statistically significantly more effective compared to the treatment with hydrogel (p<0.05). At 6 months of platelet gel application, the mean wound area in the experimental group decreased to 35.01% (SD 53.69) of the initial wound size. In the control group, the wound area decreased to 89.95% (SD 71.82) of the initial wound size (p=0.001). The circumference of the wounds diminished to 54.62% (SD 39.85) of the initial value in the experimental group, compared to 91.28% (SD 29.32) in the control group (p<0.001). Allogeneic platelet gel prepared by the new method used in this study was found to be a good treatment option for non-healing chronic wounds when other methods are ineffective.