Combination Therapy of Bleomycin and Triamcinolone Promising for Keloid Treatment: Study

Triamcinolone acetate injections are a standard treatment for keloids, but their efficacy varies, and recurrence rates can be high. Intralesional bleomycin has emerged as a potential alternative, but its effectiveness in combination with triamcinolone remains uncertain.

A recent study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of combining bleomycin and triamcinolone for refractory keloids. This study was published in the journal of Dermatologic Surgery by Mozafari and colleagues. A total of 33 patients with resistant keloids were enrolled in the study. They received a mixture of bleomycin (1 u/cc) and triamcinolone acetonide (13.3 mg/cc) injected intralesionally every 4 to 6 weeks for up to 6 cycles. The Japan Scar Scale (JSS) and physician's global assessment were used to evaluate clinical improvement, and side effects were recorded.

The key findings of the study were:

• The study included 33 patients (8 men, 25 women) with a mean age of 36.52 years.

• After treatment, all patients showed a significant decrease in total JSS scores compared to baseline (p < .001). 26 keloids (78.8%) exhibited excellent response (75%–100% flattening), 7 keloids (21.2%) showed fair response (25%–75% flattening), and none showed poor response (<25% flattening)

• Side effects included ulceration (33.3%), hyperpigmentation (33.3%), hypopigmentation (15.15%), secondary infection (33.3%), and telangiectasia (15.15%).

The combination of bleomycin and triamcinolone proved to be effective in treating refractory keloids, with the majority of patients showing significant improvement. This therapy offers a promising option for individuals who have not responded well to traditional treatments. However, side effects such as ulceration and hyperpigmentation were observed and should be monitored closely during treatment.

Reference: