Clinical Study of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for Lower Extremity Venous Ulcers: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

Abstract

To systematically evaluate the clinical effects of platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of lower limb venous ulcers by applying a meta-analysis method. The Pubmed, Cochrance Library, Embase, and OVID EBM Reviews databases were searched for the search terms’platelet-rich plasma” or “Plasma, Platelet-Rich” or “Platelet Rich Plasma” and “lower extremity venous ulcers’ or “Leg Ulcers’ or “Ulcer, Leg”, and a meta-analysis was performed on the published research literature on platelet-rich plasma for lower extremity venous ulcers from January 1900 to April 2021. The outcome indicators were: post-treatment trauma area and healing rate. Revman 5.3 statistical software was applied for meta-analysis. A total of 294 patients with lower extremity venous ulcers were included in six publications, including 148 patients in the experimental group treated with PRP versus 146 patients in the control group treated with conventional therapy. There was a statistically significant difference in the Formula of an ellipse at the end of treatment (CM²) between the experimental group and the control group, with a mean difference of −1.19 (95% CI −1.80 to −0.58, P = .0001; 6 studies, 294 participants moderate quality of evidence). The difference between the healing rate of the experimental group and the control group was statistically significant, with a risk ratio (RR) of 5.73 (95% CI 3.29 – 9.99, P < .00001; 5 studies, 248 participants moderate quality of evidence).There may be publication bias for both Formula of an ellipse at the end of treatment and healing rate. This comprehensive meta-analysis of available evidence suggests that the application of PRP for lower extremity venous ulcers accelerates the wound healing process and improves wound healing rates.