Platelet-rich fibrin reduces pain and accelerates healing of oral ulcers in blistering skin diseases

Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) provides rapid pain reduction and accelerated healing of oral ulcers and hence is superior compared to corticosteroids, says a study published in Wound Repair and Regeneration. 

The study was conducted by Eman M. Ahmed, Faculty of Dentistry, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt, and colleagues with the objective to evaluate the healing power of platelet-rich fibrin in terms of pain control and mucosal repair.

 For this purpose, the researchers conducted a randomized, controlled, pilot clinical trial on 16 patients. They were randomly distributed with a 1:1 allocation ratio into two groups. The treatment group received PRF minced and mixed with orabase and the control group received clobetasol propionate 0.05% mixed with orabase. 

The researchers conclude, "PRF offered superior clinical results providing rapid pain alleviation and accelerated ulcer healing compared to corticosteroids."

What is platelet-rich fibrin (PRF)?

Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is a fibrin matrix in which growth factors, platelet cytokines, and cells are trapped and may be released after a certain time and that can serve as a resorbable membrane. It accelerates the healing of soft and hard tissue and is used as a tissue-engineering scaffold for endodontics. For obtaining PRF, a required blood quantity is dawn quickly into test tubes without an anticoagulant and centrifuged immediately. 

Reference:

Ahmed EM, Shafik S, El Saadany B. Platelet-rich fibrin a new approach in management of persistent oral ulcers in blistering skin diseases. Wound Repair Regen. 2022 May 19. doi: 10.1111/wrr.13020. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35589608.