Preliminary clinical trials of serum free cell culture medium as a treatment for chronic atrophic ulcers

Among the common treatments for chronic atrophic wounds, moist dressings are used to create optimal environment and prevent desiccation of the wound bed. Modified serum free cell culture medium supplemented with nonsteroidal anabolic hormones thyroxine, growth hormone, insulin and transferrin was gelled in 1% Agarose. The gel was applied to the surface of chronic atrophic wounds (1 ml/cm(2)) once a day. All the wounds included in this study were clear of infection following treatment with topical antiseptics and antibiotics. The study was performed on 92 patients suffering from chronic leg ulcers. Etiologies of the ulcers varied from venous insufficiency, arterial insufficiency, insulin-dependent and non-dependent diabetic ulcers or combinations of the above. Complete wound closure was obtained in 50 patients. In the remaining 42 patients, the treatment was discontinued because of unrelated medical or psychiatric problems - 13 patients, noncompliance - 16 patients, relocation - 12 patients, and infection - 1 patient.