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- $Unique_ID{BRK00901}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Is Use of a New Salve to Help Close Open Sores Part of an Experiment?}
- $Subject{sores treatment treatments medication medications Skin Platelet
- Derived Platelet-Derived Wound Healing Formula PDWHF antibiotic saline
- dressing}
- $Volume{R-20}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
-
-
- Is Use of a New Salve to Help Close Open Sores Part of an Experiment?
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-
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-
- QUESTION: My mother, who lives in Florida, is being given a new and very
- expensive salve to use to help close some open sores on her legs. We have
- been unable to find out anything about this medication, and wonder if mother
- is being used as part of an experiment. What can you tell us?
-
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-
- ANSWER: Your mother is not part of an investigational program, although there
- is divided opinion about the value of the treatment she is using. The salve
- or "formula" is made from platelets, small elements found in the blood that
- are part of the process of clot formation. The active ingredient is called
- Platelet-Derived Wound Healing Formula (or PDWHF for simplicity's sake) and is
- applied to the wound each day, leaving it in place for 12 hours. It is then
- removed and alternated with an antibiotic or saline dressing. The technique
- was first described by Dr. David Knighton, assistant professor of surgery, at
- the University of Minneapolis, in the Annals of Surgery in September, 1986.
- He reported the use of PDWHF on 41 patients and claimed success in all cases
- after 7 1/2 weeks. However, many other specialists in the field criticized
- the study as lacking adequate controls, and are not convinced that the
- preparation really works until other studies prove its worth.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-
-