目录

Mahmoud F. SakrCHEN Yong-chongAhmed K. Al-Batanouny

Ibrahim SalinaZHANG YongLI Shi-binHUANG Gui-mei

Authors place of work: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Egypt And Department of Surgery, Ahmadi Hospital, Kuwait Oil company (KOC), Ahmadi, State of Kuwait（Mahmoud F. Sakr）；100020China Beijing，Department of Burns, Wounds and Ulcers of China Science & Technology Center And Beijing MEBO Institution of Burns, Wounds and Ulcers（CHEN Yong-chong）；Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cairo, EgyptAnd Department of Surgery, Doha Clinic Hospital, Qatar(Ahmed K. Al-Batanouny)；Department of Burn and Plastic of Hospital Sungai Buloh Ministry of Health Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia（Ibrahim Salina）；100056China Beijing，Burn and Wound Center of Beijing XuanWu Chinese Traditional Hospital(ZHANG Yong)；545002China Liuzhou，Department of Burn and Plastic of GuangXi LiuGang Hospital(LI Shi-bin， HUANG Gui-mei)

【Abstract】Objectives A multi-centers, randomized, controlled study to assess the efficacy and safety of MEBO (Julphar Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries, UAE, and SanTou MEBO Pharmaceutical CO., LTD., China) in healing of chronic pressure ulcers. Subjects and Methods Eighty seven patients with 182 chronic pressure ulcers treated at five hospitals from different areas in world, between January 2003 and January 2009, were randomized into 2 groups; those in group 1 (n=46) received MEBO while those in group 2 (n=41) received Fucidin (Leo Pharmaceutical, Denmark).  Data collected prospectively included demographics, nutritional status, underlying predisposing disease and co-morbidities. Ulcer surface area (SA) and healing index (HI) were calculated and compared at two-week intervals for 12 weeks. Results Patients in both groups had similar demographic, clinical, biochemical features, and ulcer characteristics. There was a significant increase in HI and reduction in ulcer SA on weeks two and four respectively, that was maintained through 12 weeks in patients treated with MEBO. More than half of ulcers (56.5%) treated with MEBO had complete healing (HI = 1) by 12 weeks, as opposed to only 19.6% of those treated with Fucidin (P<0.001). Moreover, none of the patients receiving MEBO had a HI of <50% of their ulcers by 12 weeks as compared to 26.8% of those receiving Fucidin (P<0.001). No adverse effects or allergic reactions of topical ointment were encountered in either group. Conclusions In addition to its safety, MEBO significantly promotes the healing of chronic pressure ulcers with significant increase in HI of any given ulcer as early as two weeks following initiation of treatment, and complete healing of more than 50% of ulcers by 12 weeks.

【Key Words】MEBO; physiological moist environment; regenerative medicine; pressure ulcers; chronic wounds; healing index

【Article identifier】doi：10.3969/j.issn.1001-0726.2011.01.010

INTRODUCTION

Pressure ulcers, defined as any lesion caused by unrelieved pressure resulting in damage of underlying tissue, constitute a clinical challenge for both the clinician and the patient^[1]. Healing is unpredictable, it often stalls due to such local factors as sepsis, edema, and prolonged pressure; and to systemic factors such as diabetes mellitus, smoking, anemia, poor nutrition, obesity, cancer, ischemia, uremia, and denervation. Chemotherapeutic agents, corticosteroids and tissue irradiation also lead to delayed wound healing^[2~3].

There is, however, recent evidence in the literature that good hydration is the single most important external factor responsible for optimal wound healing^[4~6]. Moist Exposed Wound Ointment (MEBO) (Julphar Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries, UAE., and SanTou MEBO Pharmaceutical CO., LTD., China) reduces evaporation from the wound surface, thereby offering a moist environment for wound healing^[7]. It has no evident negative effect on the immune defense mechanisms^[8], and has a similar action in-vivo to Silver Sulfadiazine in controlling burn wound sepsis and systemic infection with P. aeroginosa^[9]. It has also been shown experimentally that MEBO exhibited a significantly superior wound healing potential on rabbit corneal epithelium as compared to saline, homologus serum, vitamin A and dexamethasone^[10], as well as on rabbit skin burns treated with Vaseline^[11]. Moreover, MEBO has been found to be extremely beneficial in the treatment of partial thickness facial burns^[12], and split thickness skin graft donor sites^[13], and for the healing of experimentally induced CO₂ laser burns in animals^[14].

The present randomized clinical study was therefore conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of MEBO as compared to topical antibiotic ointment (Fucidin, Leo Pharmaceuticals, Denmark) in the local wound care and healing of chronic pressure ulcers.

1.SUBJECTS AND METHODS

1.1.Study Population

The present study included 96 patients with 196 chronic pressure ulcers seen at five different hospitals between January 2003 and January and 2009. Nine patients with 14 ulcers were lost during the early follow-up and were thus excluded from the study. The remaining 87 patients with 182 ulcers constituted the study population of the present clinical trial.

All data was collected prospectively and included demographics, nutritional status, underlying predisposing disease and/or co-morbidities such as diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, renal insufficiency, malignancy, connective tissue disease, central nervous system, spinal cord or peripheral nerve injuries, endocrinopathy, and chronic osteomyelitis. Previous irradiation, and concomitant corticosteroids or chemotherapy administration were noted. Adverse reactions or hypersensitivity reactions to the topical agent, if any, were also recorded. There were 48 men and 39 women. Their ages ranged between 14 and 102 years with a mean of 69.5?9.4 years. Patients had their ulcers prior to study entry for a mean of 10.67 months (range 2~27 months).

1.2.Study Protocol

This prospective randomized study was conducted from Jan 2003 to Jan 2009 at five different hospitals after approval of the protocol by each Hospital Ethical Committee. After obtaining consent of the patients or their first-degree care-givers, patients of both sexes with chronic pressure ulcers failing to heal for more than six weeks were enrolled in the study. The pressure ulcer staging system adopted by the panel developing the pressure ulcer treatment guideline for the AHCPR in 1994^[15] was utilized in this study. Patients were randomized, using the sealed envelop method. Those in group 1 (n=46) had a 96 ulcers and received MEBO, while those in group 2 (n=41) had 86 ulcers and received Fucidin.

Local wound management was accomplished by twice daily application of a thick layer of ointment (1~2 mm) using a tongue depressor after gently removing the previously applied layer. Dry sterile gauze and dressing then covered the wound to relieve pressure and allow change of patient position. Before treatment, surgical debridement was performed for patients in either group when deemed necessary. Wound swabs for culture were taken only whenever it was clinically indicated and antibiotics were prescribed only when necessary. All ulcers were evaluated at weekly intervals whether in hospital, at the outpatient department, or through home visits by the family doctor, for a period of 12 weeks or earlier if the ulcer healed completely. Upon each evaluation, photographs were taken with a digital camera, a sterile OpSite flexigrid sheet (Fabrique par Smith & Nephew Medical limited, UK) was placed on the ulcer, edges of the ulcer and necrotic areas were marked, and ulcer surface area (SA) was subsequently calculated with computerized planimetry. In addition, clinical evaluation was performed noting floor of the ulcer regarding its depth, granulation tissue and sepsis, as well as the margin status with respect to edema, erythema, cellulitis and hyperpigmentation.

Laboratory investigations for all patients included complete blood count, hematocrit, hemoglobin, liver function tests, blood urea and creatinine, serum electrolytes, and blood glucose levels.

1.3.Healing Index

Healing index (HI) was calculated by dividing the difference in ulcer size between “day 0” (initial day of assessment) and any given “day x” by ulcer size at “day 0”.

Healing Index (HI) = (ulcer size day 0 - ulcer size day x) / ulcer size day 0.The HI thus ranges between 0-1, where 0 means no healing (as compared to day 0), and 1 means complete healing, irrespective of ulcer size.

1.4.Statistical Analysis

Data were analyzed using the SPSS/PC version 12 computer software (Prentice-Hall, Chicago, IL). Continuous variables were expressed as mean values and standard error of the mean (X ? SE), and were compared using the students t test. Differences in ulcer surface area were compared using a non-parametric test (Menn-Whitney’s) due to wide range. The Chi-square test was used to compare proportions including those of healing ulcers at 12 weeks after initiation of treatment. Probability value of < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. A linear regression analysis was also performed calculating r² values in order to evaluate the change in ulcer size and healing index that can be attributed to ointment application. Owing to the relatively small sample size, r² values more than 0.4 were considered to indicate that the two parameters are in correlation with each other whereas values less than 0.4 indicated that other variables may have contributed to the observed changes in ulcer size.

2.RESULTS

Patients in both groups had similar demographic and clinical features regarding their age, gender, underlying predisposing factor for ulcer development, and associated medical conditions, in addition to their laboratory results (anemia and hypoalbuminemia). Cerebro-vascular accident (CVA) was the most common predisposing factor, and diabetes mellitus and hypertension were the most common co-morbidities, in both groups (Table I). Ulcer characteristics were also similar regarding their number, site, size, duration, depth and presence or absence of sepsis (Table II). In both groups, the number of ulcers per patient ranged between one and four, the trochanteric region was the most common ulcer site, and stage III ulcers were the most common at the time of initiation of treatment. No skin grafts or flaps were needed to close the wounds in the MEBO groups as opposed to 12 patients who required skin grafts in the Fucidin group. Four patients died in each group after 7~13 months of their enrollment in the study, which did not affect the data gathered regarding healing of their pressure ulcers.

Table I  Clinical and Biochemical Features of Patients in Both Studied

CVA: Cerebro-vascular accident, DM: Diabetes mellitus, LVF: Left ventricular failure, HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma. All differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05).

Table II  Ulcer Characteristics of Patients in Both Studied Groups

* Due to wide range, a non-parametric test (Menn-Whitney’s) was used (P=0.06).

All differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). 

Figure 1 

  90y, Bed sore before treatment     4 weeks after treatment     10 weeks after treatment      12 weeks after treatment

Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 show the progressive healing of deep (stage IV) pressure ulcers in elderly bed-ridden patients receiving MEBO. Figures 1 and 2 represent progression of healing of left trochanteric and sacral pressure ulcers respectively, in the same patient, at the same time intervals. There was a significant (P<0.05) increase in healing index (HI) (Figure 5) and reduction in ulcer surface area (Figure 6) on weeks two and four respectively, that was maintained through 12 weeks in patients receiving MEBO as compared to those receiving Fucidin. Cumulative patient sample percentage showed that 56.3% (54/96) of ulcers treated with MEBO had complete healing (HI = 1) by 12 weeks, as opposed to only 19.8% (17/86) of those treated with Fucidin (X²=15.248,P<0.001). Moreover, none of the patients receiving MEBO had a HI of <50% by 12 weeks as compared to 26.8% (23/86) of those receiving Fucidin (X²=66.271,P<0.001) (Figure 7). Linear regression analysis showed that the change in ulcer size and healing index can be attributed to ointment application (r²> 0.4). No adverse effects or hypersensitivity reactions of the ointment were encountered in either group.

  Figure 5HI with Time (weeks)             Figure 6SA with Time (Weeks)             Figure 7HI at 12 Weeks

3.FIGURE LEGENDS

Legends of Figure 1(a-d):A 90-year old bed-ridden gentleman with a deep (stage IV) left trochanteric pressure ulcer, on admission (Figure 1∶a) treated with MEBO and followed-up for 4 weeks (Figure 1∶b), 12 weeks (Figure 1∶c), and 18 weeks (Figure 1∶d) showing progressive and almost complete ulcer healing.

Legends of Figure 2(a-d):Deep pressure ulcer (stage IV) in the sacral area of the same patient, on admission (Figure 2:a) treated with MEBO and followed-up for 4 weeks (Figure 2:b), 12 weeks (Figure 1:c), and 18 weeks (Figure 1:d) showing progressive and almost complete ulcer healing.

Legends of Figure 3(a-d):Deep pressure ulcer (stage IV) in a 60-year-old patient, on admission (Figure 3:a) treated with MEBO and followed-up 3 weeks (Figure 3:b), 10 weeks (Figure 3:c), and 90 days (Figure 3:d) showing complete ulcer healing and patient discharged back home.

Legends of Figure 4(a-d):Deep pressure ulcer (stage IV) in the sacral area of 65-year-old patient, on admission (Figure 4:a) treated with MEBO and followed-up at 3weeks (Figure 4:b), 6weeks (Figure 1:c), and 12weeks (Figure 4:d) showing progressive ulcer healing and the patient back home.

Legends of Figure 5:Healing index (HI) of pressure ulcers in both groups with time showing significant  increase of HI in patients receiving MEBO starting at 2 weeks after initiation of therapy.

Legends of Figure 6:Surface area (SA) of pressure ulcers in both groups with time showing significant reduction of ulcer size in patients receiving MEBO starting at 4 weeks after initiation of therapy.

Legends of Figure 7:Proportion of healing pressure ulcers in both groups after 12 weeks of initiation of topical therapy. Note complete healing of >50% of pressure ulcers in patients receiving MEBO.

4.DISCUSSION

Pressure ulcers greatly affect the lives of patients and their family caregivers. These effects include physical, emotional, social and financial status; change of body image; and loss of independence and control^[16]. Despite technological advances that have given a myriad of options for managing pressure ulcers, the effective, practical, and affordable local wound care modality does not seem to be available yet. Nevertheless, the preferred modality should be one able to maintain moisture over the wound surface, preserve cytokines and growth factors present in wound exudates, provide an effective barrier against bacteria and external physical factors, facilitate debridement when necessary, and reduce pain. Reduced cost, and practicality of dressing application and maintenance in position are also factors to be considered.

It has long been known that a moist environment facilitates wound healing more so than allowing the wound to air dry^[4~6]. Therefore, any dressing that does not provide the necessary moisture for wound healing should be disregarded except probably when dealing with infected wounds in which the moist environment would exacerbate the infection^[3]. Several studies provided some evidence that hydrocolloid dressings were better than saline gauze or paraffin gauze dressings for complete healing of chronic wounds^[17]. Adherent wet-to-dry (saline) dressings, low adherent wound contact dressings and perforated film absorbent dressings do not seem to be appropriate for the management of chronic open wounds healing by secondary intention. On the other hand, foam dressings, polysaccharide dressings and alginate dressings do not provide as such the optimum moist environment for healing unless combined with a secondary synthetic adhesive moisture-vapor-permeable (SAM) dressing which by itself is labor intensive and impractical to use over large surface areas and difficult to maintain over certain anatomical areas. Likewise, hydrocolloids, hydrogels, and the new hydroactive preparations though capable of providing the proper moisture, require the same secondary dressing for positioning. MEBO, on the other hand, produces the adequate environment for moist wound healing without the need of any cumbersome, elaborate or expensive secondary dressing^[3].

In the present study, we compared MEBO dressing versus Fucidin for the local management of chronic pressure ulcers. The active ingredients of MEBO are ?-sitosterol, flavinoids (mainly baicalin), alkaloids (mainly berberine), in a base of bees wax and sesame oil. Such active components provide the physiological moisture for optimal wound healing by facilitating keratinocyte migration, angiogenesis and interaction with growth factors^[3]. Moreover, such ingredients allow MEBO to be effective through the three known stages of wound healing; by providing rapid autolytic debridement (first stage), facilitating the development of good and healthy granulation tissue (second stage), and facilitating re-epithelization with no hypo- or hyper-pigmentation (third stage).

The present randomized clinical study showed the simplicity, safety and efficacy of MEBO in local management of chronic pressure ulcers. Significant increase in healing index of any given pressure ulcer is to be expected as early as two weeks following initiation of treatment. Atiyeh et al^[18] reported similar results in their multi-center prospective study. Although there was no control group in their study, yet it clearly showed that MEBO may induce rapid reduction in ulcer size even after a stagnant state with other therapeutic modalities. When a healing plateau is reached, additional therapy mostly surgical debridement and soft tissue coverage becomes indicated whenever feasible. If surgery is not an option as dictated by the patient’s age, underlying pathologies and associated diseases, ointment application can be continued for prolonged periods of time without leading to the emergence of resistant bacterial strains while maintaining the wound in a relatively clean and socially acceptable condition. On the other hand, various creams, ointments, powders, or solutions available for use as topical anti-microbial agents may control bacterial growth at the wound site for some time, but in most cases, will definitely not cure infection^[19].  Indiscriminate use of these agents for prolonged periods of time may predispose to the emergence of resistant strains and several may cause skin hypersensitivity reactions or may have an adverse effect on wound healing^[20].

Occlusive dressings prevent surface desiccation greatly enhancing re-epithelization and wound contraction, and reduce also pain during the healing phase^[21]. However, early occlusive dressings were quickly abandoned because of the potential of bacterial proliferation and their difficulty of application in areas other than the extremities^[22~23]. In addition, Duoderm (Convatec), a new type of occlusive dressings that keeps a moist non-adherent environment over the open wound^[22], has been associated with the formation of granulomas with increased inflammation and potential scarring^[24]. Further, when occlusive dressings are used on large surface areas, the amount of dressing exudate becomes unmanageable and it becomes cost ineffective and labor intensive^[25].

A new concept in local wound management applicable to chronic ulcers is the negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT). It is primarily designed to prevent exudate collection while simultaneously preventing desiccation of the wound. It has also been claimed that these dressings increase oxygen tension in the wound, decrease bacterial count, increase granulation formation, and prevent shear force on the wound surface^[26]. Additional advantages include diminished need for daily dressing changes enhancing patient’s comfort, decreasing nursing work, and probably diminishing cost of wound care. Though the principle is basically simple, applying this type of dressing does require certain expertise and may not be applicable to all types of wounds, such as those with inadequate circulation, fibrotic, desiccated and devitalized wounds with eschar, in addition to wounds that are too small to allow the NPWT foam dressing to come into contact with the wound bed^[27].

Based on the results of this study it may be concluded that, in addition to its simplicity and safety, MEBO dressing significantly promotes the healing of chronic pressure ulcers with significant increase in the healing index of any given pressure ulcer starting two weeks following initiation of treatment, and complete healing of more than 50% of the ulcers by 12 weeks. Another comparative study between this topical treatment modality of chronic pressure ulcers and other existing practices particularly NPWT merits further investigation.

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