Platelet-rich plasma for the treatment of chronic wounds: evidence to date

Elena Conde-Montero,1 Pablo de la Cueva Dobao,1 José María Martínez González2 1Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, 2Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain Abstract: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a widely used throughout diverse fields of medicine for improving tissue regeneration. In dermatology, its main applications in the last few years have mainly been in antiaging treatment and wound healing. PRP contains platelets at higher concentrations than whole blood, and consequently represents a growth-factor pool. Chronic wounds are characterized by a prolonged inflammatory phase, involving a continuous destruction of matrix proteins and growth factors. Growth factors promote cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation, which are essential for wound healing. In this review, we explain the basic principles of PRP in wound healing and aim to offer an updated critical assessment of the available clinical evidence that supports the utility of PRP for the therapeutic challenge that chronic ulcers represent in our daily clinical practice. Keywords: platelet-rich plasma, chronic wounds, growth factors, wound healing, platelet gel