UCB-derived platelet gel for the treatment of skin ulcers in pediatric patients with cGvHD: Results from a randomized trial

Results from a randomized clinical trial assessing the safety and efficacy of allogeneic umbilical cord blood (UCB)-derived platelet gel for the management of skin ulcers in pediatric patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD) were published in Transplantation and Cellular Therapy by Mohseni et al.¹ Two ulcers per patient, with similar size and depth, and located symmetrically or near-symmetrically on body areas, were treated with either conventional or platelet gel (a platelet-rich plasma derived product)-containing dressings, in 16 patients aged 5–15 years old.¹

UCB-derived platelet gels improved healing in pediatric patients with cGvHD-related refractory skin ulcers, with significant reductions in wound surface area by Day 15; six vs zero ulcers healed in the treatment vs control group by the end of the study, and a greater proportion of ulcers exhibited a >50% reduction in size (87.5% vs 6.25%; p < 0.01).

No infections, allergic reactions, or increased pain were reported in either group.

This suggests that UCB-derived platelet gels could be a viable and safe therapeutic option for managing refractory skin ulcers in cGvHD, a condition with limited effective treatments, improving patient outcomes and quality of life.

Further research is needed to compare the efficacy of different platelet gel preparations and their combination with other therapies, such as mesenchymal stem cells, and to explore applications in ocular, mucosal, and acute skin GvHD.