Wound Healing Sped Up by Patient’s Own Platelets

The University of Cincinnati is reporting that a team of clinicians under David Hom, MD, an otolaryngologist, completed a study that demonstrated that a gel containing a patient’s own platelets (autologous platelet gel or APG) is more effective in promoting skin wound healing than a control antibiotic ointment:

It is believed to be one of the earliest preliminary studies comparing the effectiveness of APG on skin wounds in healthy humans.
Four male and four female volunteers aged 21-58 received five full-thickness skin punch wounds (4 mm diameter) on each thigh. APG was applied topically to the punch sites (one to two times) on one thigh and antibiotic ointment to the other, and the wounds were monitored for six months.
Over a 42-day period, the researchers found that skin wounds treated with APG had a statistically significant increased wound closure compared with the antibiotic-treated sites.
On day 14, the researchers report in the May/June 2007 issue of Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, the APG-treated sites had a closure rate of 73.9 percent, while the control, antibiotic-treated sites closed at 49.6 percent. By day 17, 81.1 percent of the APG-treated sites closed, compared with 57.2 percent of the antibiotic sites.
Clinical analysis of the APG-treated sites also showed increased growth factor levels, which are essential in wound healing.
“Overall, some of the APG-treated wound sites healed two to three days faster,” says Hom. “That’s a significant amount of time. This may be especially useful for patients who are prone to poor healing, such those with diabetes.
“Accelerating normal wound healing could also improve the quality of life for patients post-op,” says Hom. “They may be able to leave the hospital sooner and get back to their regular routines more quickly.”
Hom says APG treatment on skin wounds may also help patients who typically heal poorly.

Press release: Patient’s Own Platelets May Speed Up Skin Wound Healing …
Abstract: The Healing Effects of Autologous Platelet Gel on Acute Human Skin Wounds