A controlled study of the activity of hyaluronic acid in the treatment of venous leg ulcers

Abstract

In slow-healing wounds, i.e. those with little granulation tissue with deep necrotic tissue and exudation, complicated by inflammation, there is depolymerization and degradation of local mucopolysaccharides, especially hyaluronic acid. A local deficit of hyaluronic acid leads to insufficient regeneration of connective tissue, poor angiogenesis and deficient differentiation of histiocyte and fibroblast populations. Exogenous hyaluronic acid applied to a debrided wound keeps it moist and ensures a high concentration at the site of action. Hyaluronic acid stabilizes the clot matrix, attracts inflammatory, mesenchymal and epithelial cells into the wound area and enhances angiogenesis of the clot tissue. It also exerts an antiexudative, vasoprotective and fibrogenic action in inflamed tissues of slow-healing wounds. In this multicentre controlled study we evaluated the efficacy and safety of hyaluronic acid in 50 patients with venous leg ulcers in comparison with Dextranomer, the product of choice for this ind...