Determination of the Effect of Autologous Platelet Gel on Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Wounds Healing

Abstract Background and Objectives Platelet Gel (PG) is rich in growth factors with healing properties and is used in most surgeries to treat various types of tissue defects. In this study, the effect of autologous platelet gel (APG) was evaluated on healing of cutaneous leishmaniasis wounds.   Materials and Methods This randomized clinical trial was done on 15 patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis; the follow-up assessment lenghthened for two months. The patients had more than one cutaneous ulcer with one of the wounds evaluated as the control and the other as the intervention group. The control group was treated with glucantime routine treatment and the intervention group received a platelet gel in addition to routine treatment. PG was used once a week and up to 7 times in the wound site. Granulation tissue formation and epithelialization were the tokens of wound recovery and positive response to treatment.   Results The use of APG in the intervention group was associated with a complete and faster wound healing in 66% of the cases and 34% of the wounds had a relative improvement. During the two months of assessment, none of the wounds of the control group was associated with complete recovery. In the intervention group, the mean area of the wound was 160.6 ± 148.9 mm2 in the first week and changed to 86.9 ± 121.6 mm2 in the eighth week with descending change being statistically significant (p < 0.001).   Conclusions  Platelet gel can be effective in wound healing and scar removal in the wounds caused by cutaneous leishmaniasis.