Autologous platelet-rich plasma for healing chronic venous leg ulcers: Clinical efficacy and potential mechanisms

Abstract

The overall quality of evidence of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for treatingchronic wounds remains low. While further well-designed clinical studies are clearlyrequired to convincingly demonstrate the efficacy of autologous PRP in improvedhealing of venous leg ulcers (VLUs) and other chronic wounds, there is also anincreasing need to better define the underlying mechanisms of action and whetherpositive outcomes can be predicted based on the analysis of PRP. This brief reviewwill discuss the current understanding of autologous PRP in VLUs and whethermolecular evaluation of PRP at the time of collection could potentially be informa-tive to clinical outcomes. Benefits of the autologous PRP treatment strategy includethat PRP is easily accessible and is relatively inexpensive and safe. Better under-standing of the mechanisms involved could improve treatment, enable supplementa-tion, and/or lead to gains in product development. Analysis of PRP could also addvalue to future clinical trials on efficacy and potentially personalised treatmentregimens.