ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Acta Phlebologica 2016 December;17(3):91-100

Copyright © 2017 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Leukocytes and platelets rich fibrin in the treatment of skin lesions

Enrico RESCIGNO ¹, Giulia SAN ROMÉ ², Giorgio ROSA ¹

¹ Department of Vascular Surgery, Leonardi e Riboli Hospital, Lavagna, Genoa, Italy; ² Private Practitioner, Lavagna, Genoa, Italy

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine whether the use of leukocyte-platelet rich fibrin (L-PRF) improved outcome in the treatment of skin ulcers.
METHODS: Seventeen patients with 22 skin ulcers of various types (10 post-traumatic, 6 diabetic, 2 venous stasis, 1 mixed arteriovenous, 1 pressure, 1 peristomal, 1 rheumatoid), some already treated unsuccessfully with advanced dressings, were treated with L-PRF: Blood was collected with certified 10 mL tubes (Intra-Lock) and immediately centrifuged (with an IntraSpin™ centrifuge, Intra-Lock), with the result that red blood cells were separated from coagulated plasma. The latter was applied, once a week, directly onto lesions presenting with granulation tissue or those previously treated with surgical or enzyme debridement.
RESULTS: Nineteen lesions (86.4%) healed completely. One diabetic patient with comorbidity and skin allergy, after initial improvement, worsened resulting in interruption of L-PRF application. Another diabetic patient died during treatment because of acute renal failure caused by urinary tract infection. Another one was transferred to another institution before ending the treatment. L-PRF application led to the formation of highly vascularized and regenerated new tissue in 21 lesions (95.4%), as well as a reduction in pain, in the need for analgesics and in healing time.
CONCLUSIONS: L-PRF is easy to prepare and inexpensive. When used topically, it could have an important role on the healing of skin wounds with remarkable repercussions on quality of life.