The use of dressings containing autologous serum as a new method for the treatment of chronic ulcers

Abstract

We aimed to assess the efficiency and tolerability of autologous conditioned serum (ACS) as an innovative wound dressing in the local management of chronic wounds. Methods: In a single-blinded randomized controlled trial performed in two university affiliated outpatient clinics, Tabriz, Iran, patients with chronic wounds were randomly assign to receive 3 weeks of either ACS wound dressing or normal saline dressing between February 2019 and March 2020.Treatment was applied once a week and then the latest assessment was planned at 3 weeks after the first ACS application. The main outcomes were changes in wound surface area measurement and changes in Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) scores. Patients were assessed at inclusion (T0=baseline), week 1 (T1), week 2 (T2) and week 3 (T4=end of the study). Results: A total of 30 subjects with chronic wound (5 diabetic wound, 11 pressure wound, 7 surgical wound and 7 burn ulcer) were analyzed. Analysis of wound assessment data displayed statistically significant differences between T0 and T4 for wound surface area and PUSH indices (area score, exudate and tissue) in participants underwent ACS dressing but not in normal saline group. There were significant differences in the changes in wound surface area between ACS and normal saline groups on week 3 (T4-T0) (-6.40±0.40 vs. +0.40±2.52 cm2, respectively; p<0.01). Additionally, There were significant differences in the changes in the area score at week 3 (T4-T0) (-2.20±1.08 vs. +0.20±0.86, respectively; p<0.01), changes in the exudate at week 2 (T3-T0) (-1.26±0.70 vs. +0.06±0.45, respectively; p<0.001) and week 3 (T4-T0) (-1.33±0.72 vs. -0.13±0.63, respectively; p<0.001) and tissue at week 2 (T3-T0) (-1.13±0.35 vs. +0.00±0.53, respectively; p<0.01) and week 3 (T4-T0) (-1.80±0.65 vs. -0.13±0.63, respectively; p<0.001) between ACS and normal saline groups, respectively.