Clinical trial NCT03935594: Use of Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma to Treat Hypertrophic Burn Scars
Official title: Use of Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma to Treat Hypertrophic Burn Scars; A Randomized Controlled Double-Blinded Trial
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: TERMINATED
Phase: PHASE2
Conditions: Hypertrophic Scar
Keywords: platelet rich plasma (PRP)
hypertrophic scar
burn scar
tissue repair
vancouver scar scale (VSS)
patient and observer scar assessment scale (POSAS)
Lead sponsor: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2019-05-02
Enrollment: 3
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 70
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: All patients meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria will be offered enrollment. Using a coin flip, patients will have a 50% chance of receiving PRP injection on the right half of the scar (as opposed to the left half). Multiple scar sites may be enrolled per patient, without limit.
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Hypertrophic burn scars are experienced by more than 70% of burn victims. They are a major source of decreased quality of life in burn patients due to pain, decreased range of motion, and poor cosmetic appearance. Current treatment strategies (including fat grafting and laser resurfacing) are either highly invasive, prohibitively costly, or painful. Autologous Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) does not require anesthesia, and is an inexpensive, safe, fast, and less painful alternative that has been recognized for its role in reducing scars associated with acne, among other things. While PRP has not been studied specifically in burn scars, there is sufficient theoretical and practical evidence that it will improve the appearance and feel of these debilitating scars, representing a large potential benefit for these patients with minimal associated risk.

Detailed description: Severe burn injury is associated with hypertrophic scarring, which occurs in up to 70% of burn patients (Finnerty et al., 2016). Burn scars are particularly troublesome because they cause debilitating neuropathic pain and itch, joint contractures and stiffness that limit range of motion, inability to sweat, and physical disfigurement of cosmetically sensitive areas such as the hands and face.

Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is plasma with a higher concentration of platelets, and is prepared by drawing up a small amount of a patient's blood, centrifuging it, and collecting the platelet-rich layer. Many automated machines exist for doing this process. Platelets contain a multitude of growth factors and other small molecules that have been shown to promote wound healing and tissue regeneration in a variety of contexts. PRP, which is rich in these healing growth factors, has been studied extensively and has proved to be both a safe and effective treatment modality for a wide range of applications, including acne scars and hair loss (Elghblawi et al., 2018). It has been shown to be a safe and effective treatment for some types of surgical and traumatic scars, and has been safely applied to acute burn wounds where it has been shown to improve healing and subsequent scarring (Venter et al., 2016). Despite these known uses of PRP, its role in reducing the extent and severity of mature hypertrophic burn scars after they have already healed is notably lacking in the literature.

The purpose of this study is to assess whether intradermally-injected autologous platelet-rich plasma improves the size, texture, color, elasticity, contour, and neuropathic pain associated with mature burn scars.

Specific Aims:

1. Compare the effectiveness of intradermally-injected autologous platelet-rich plasma versus normal saline (NS) to improve burn scars, as measured by both clinician-reported (Vancouver scar scale; VSS) and patient-reported measures (Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale; POSAS).
2. Compare the effectiveness of intradermally-injected autologous platelet-rich plasma versus normal saline as a control to improve neuropathic pain associated with burn scars.
3. Understand the mechanism of action of PRP in improving burn scars via histological analysis of collagen content in the burn scar tissue biopsy specimens.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Hypertrophic burn scar present on trunk or abdomen

Exclusion Criteria:

* Initial burn injury less than 1 year old
* History of chemical or electrical burn
* Genetic or acquired conditions that severely affect systemic wound healing or collagen formation (vasculitis, diabetes, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, radiation therapy to the scar site or use of immunosuppressive medications within the last year, active cancer)

Primary outcomes:
measure: Scar Assessment: POSAS at 2 Months
timeFrame: 2 months
measure: Scar Assessment: VSS at 2 Months
timeFrame: 2 months
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Nashville
country: United States
facility: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
state: Tennessee
Study officials:
affiliation: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
name: Galen Perdikis, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Cervelli V, Nicoli F, Spallone D, Verardi S, Sorge R, Nicoli M, Balzani A. Treatment of traumatic scars using fat grafts mixed with platelet-rich plasma, and resurfacing of skin with the 1540 nm nonablative laser. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2012 Jan;37(1):55-61. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2011.04199.x.
citation: Prochazka V, Klosova H, Stetinsky J, Gumulec J, Vitkova K, Salounova D, Dvorackova J, Bielnikova H, Klement P, Levakova V, Ocelka T, Pavliska L, Kovanic P, Klement GL. Addition of platelet concentrate to dermo-epidermal skin graft in deep burn trauma reduces scarring and need for revision surgeries. Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub. 2014 Jun;158(2):242-58. doi: 10.5507/bp.2013.070. Epub 2013 Sep 27.
citation: Ruiz A, Cuestas D, Garcia P, Quintero J, Forero Y, Galvis I, Velasquez O. Early intervention in scar management and cutaneous burns with autologous platelet-rich plasma. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2018 Dec;17(6):1194-1199. doi: 10.1111/jocd.12554. Epub 2018 Apr 22.
citation: Asif M, Kanodia S, Singh K. Combined autologous platelet-rich plasma with microneedling verses microneedling with distilled water in the treatment of atrophic acne scars: a concurrent split-face study. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2016 Dec;15(4):434-443. doi: 10.1111/jocd.12207. Epub 2016 Jan 8.
citation: Klosova H, Stetinsky J, Bryjova I, Hledik S, Klein L. Objective evaluation of the effect of autologous platelet concentrate on post-operative scarring in deep burns. Burns. 2013 Sep;39(6):1263-76. doi: 10.1016/j.burns.2013.01.020. Epub 2013 Mar 5.