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Hypertrophic ScarPhase 2NCT03935594

Use of Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma to Treat Hypertrophic Burn Scars

A Phase 2 study testing PRP Injection and Saline Injection in people with Hypertrophic Scar, run by Vanderbilt University Medical Center at 1 site in United States.

Terminated

Stopped early. The study ended before it was planned to and will not resume.

Official record
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Trial 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. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 70 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Hypertrophic Scar
What is being tested?
PRP Injection and Saline Injection
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
3 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
18 Sep 2020to 19 Oct 2022
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 70 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Hypertrophic burn scar present on trunk or abdomen

Who cannot join

  • 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)

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Vanderbilt University Medical Center

    Nashville, Tennessee, 37232

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Use of Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma to Treat Hypertrophic Burn Scars; A Randomized Controlled Double-Blinded Trial

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.

Read the 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.
Being tested
PRP Injection, Saline Injection
Keywords
platelet rich plasma (PRP), hypertrophic scar, burn scar, tissue repair, vancouver scar scale (VSS), patient and observer scar assessment scale (POSAS)
Medical subject headings
Cicatrix, Hypertrophic

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • PRP InjectionBiological

    1mL platelet rich plasma will be injected into each 1cm x 1cm area of scar tissue of the experimental half of the scar.

  • Saline InjectionDrug

    1mL NS will be injected into each 1cm x 1cm area of scar tissue of the control half of the scar.

Study groups in NCT03935594
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
PRP injection right halfExperimentalThe scar to be treated will first be wiped with an alcohol swab, then measured and marked out with a marking pen such that the entirety of the scar will fit into a symmetric ellipse that is drawn, and the ellipse is filled entirely with the scar tissue. A ruler will be used to measure the scar in its greatest horizontal span, and the midway point will be marked with a vertical line. A coin flip will determine if the PRP injection (the experimental half) will be on the right half of the scar (as opposed to the left half). The half of the scar that will not receive PRP will be the control half. After finishing the VSS and POSAS, the area inside the control half of the ellipse will then be subdivided with a marking pen into 1cm x 1cm square boxes, with the plan of injecting 1mL normal saline into each 1 square cm box at 0 months, 1 month, 4 months, and 6 months. Punch biopsies from each scar will be will be obtained at both six months and one year from enrollment.
Receives: Biological: PRP Injection; Drug: Saline Injection
PRP injection left halfExperimentalThe scar to be treated will first be wiped with an alcohol swab, then measured and marked out with a marking pen such that the entirety of the scar will fit into a symmetric ellipse that is drawn, and the ellipse is filled entirely with the scar tissue. A ruler will be used to measure the scar in its greatest horizontal span, and the midway point will be marked with a vertical line. A coin flip will determine if the PRP injection (the experimental half) will be on the right half of the scar (as opposed to the left half). The half of the scar that will not receive PRP will be the control half. After finishing the VSS and POSAS, the area inside the experimental half of the ellipse will then be subdivided with a marking pen into 1cm x 1cm square boxes, with the plan of injecting 1mL PRP into each 1 square cm box at 0 months, 1 month, 4 months, and 6 months. Punch biopsies from each scar will be will be obtained at both six months and one year from enrollment.
Receives: Biological: PRP Injection; Drug: Saline Injection

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Scar Assessment: POSAS at 2 Months

    Scar will be measured by Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale ( POSAS ) on both sides of the scar. POSAS score is an assessment of scar severity. The range is 6-60. 6=normal skin and 60= severely scarred skin.

    Measured: 2 months

  2. Scar Assessment: VSS at 2 Months

    Scar will be measured by Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) on both control half and experimental half. VSS score is an assessment of scar severity. Four characteristics of the scar are assessed. These are: vascularity, height, pliability, and pigmentation. Each characteristic is given a score, which are added together to give an overall score between 0 and 13. 0= normal; 13=severely scarred.

    Measured: 2 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted2 May 2019
  2. Study start18 Sep 2020
  3. Primary completion24 May 2021
  4. Study completion19 Oct 2022

Why it stopped: Intervention causing discomfort to participants

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
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.
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Participant
Enrolment
3 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03935594
Sponsor's protocol ID
IRB #190170
Status last verified
Dec 2022
First submitted
30 Apr 2019
Last updated
9 Jan 2023
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: All reasonable efforts will be made to keep a patient's protected health information (PHI) private and confidential. Electronic records will be stored in restricted access database (Redcap, Vanderbilt) open only to the study team or on sponsor electronic databases which are password protected.

Publications

  • 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.

    PubMed 22182435
  • 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.

    PubMed 24108222
  • 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.

    PubMed 29682893
  • 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.

    PubMed 26748836
  • 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.

    PubMed 23481151

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing PRP Injection and Saline Injection in people with Hypertrophic Scar, run by Vanderbilt University Medical Center at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: stopped early, as of the sponsor's last update on 9 Jan 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 9 Jan 2023). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Scar Assessment: POSAS at 2 Months (time frame: 2 months). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03935594, which also lists 5 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 9 Jan 2023.

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