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Updated: Oct 20, 2025
Basic Research in Plasma Medicine - A Throughput Approach from Liquids to Cells
Published on: November 17, 2017
[Wound therapy with cold atmospheric plasma in severe recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa : A pilot study]
Alexander Thiem1, Cristina Has2, Anja Diem3
1Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Venerologie, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Strempelstr. 13, 18057, Rostock, Deutschland. alexander.thiem@med.uni-rostock.de.
Background:
Cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) has antimicrobial and wound-healing properties. Patients affected by severe autosomal recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) suffer from widespread, difficult-to-treat wounds, which require complex wound management.
Objective:
In a pilot project, we investigated over a period of 5 months the response and tolerability of a CAP wound therapy in a 21-year-old and a 28-year-old female patient with severe generalized RDEB and following cutaneous squamous cell cancer (cSSC) in the older patient.
Materials And Methods:
In both patients, diagnosis of RDEB was confirmed by molecular genetics. Individual- and patient-specific wound therapy was continued during the study period, and additionally CAP therapy with a dielectric barrier discharge (DBE) device was initiated. CAP treatment was performed for 90 s per wound and could be applied every day or every other day. Clinical evaluation included photographic documentation and regular interviews of patients and parents.
Results:
CAP-treated wounds largely demonstrated improved wound healing and signs of a reduced bacterial contamination. Furthermore, CAP proved to prevent wound chronification. When applied on a polyester mesh, it was well-tolerated on most body sites.
Conclusion:
The introduction of CAP could improve the wound management of EB patients and should be evaluated in clinical studies. The effect of CAP on cSSC development should be particularly studied.
