Background: After conventional treatments, keloid scars show varying degrees of recurrence. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of postoperative keloid scars refractory to conventional treatments.
Methods: This pilot prospective study was conducted in 17 patients with keloid scars who did not respond to 4 injections of cortisone or radiotherapy after extralesional resection of keloid. Platelet-rich plasma was injected intraoperatively and then 3 times with a 1-month interval. The primary end point was the complete remission of keloid scars 2 years posttreatment. Scar pruritus severity was scored before and after treatment. The study protocol was approved by the ethics committee and authorized by the French National Agency. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT02922972.
Results: Nine keloid scars (53%) were completely resolved at 2 years, and 5 (29%) completely relapsed after treatment. Pruritus severity score was significantly lower at 2 years compared with baseline (1.33 ± 0.97 before treatment and 0.40 ± 0.63 at 2 years, P < 0.003). The mean Vancouver Scar Scale score significantly improved (8.18 ± 2.38 before treatment and 3.82 ± 1.98 at 2 years, P < 0.001).
Conclusions: Injecting platelet-rich plasma is an effective and safe method as adjunctive therapy to resection for treating keloid scars refractory to conventional therapy.