Autologous cultured single-keratinocytes in fibrin glue suspension in chronic venous leg ulcers

Abstract

SummaryThe aim of this work was to apply the cultured autologous keratinocytes in fibrin glue suspension in treatment of chronic non-healing venous leg ulcers. 32 patients with chronic leg ulcers caused by venous insufficiency were treated. The surface of ulcers covered 14.2 cm2 to 48.6 cm2. The duration of leg ulcer was between 4 to 20 years. The skin specimen 1.0 × 1.0 cm was taken from the buttock of each patient, from which keratinocytes were obtained. Next those cells were cultured. After 7 days the keratinocytes in fibrin glue were applied to the wound bed. After 2 weeks of treatment the ulceration of 13 patients healed completely whereas the ulcer formation of the rest of the patients diminished by 30%. In all patients the process of healing was successfully completed after further 4 weeks. Our method shows that a rapid healing chronic venous leg ulcer can be achieved by keratinocytes in fibrin glue suspension.