Venous ulcers: improved healing by iontophoretic administration of calcitonin gene-related peptide and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide.

Abstract

A study on the effects of iontophoretic administration of calcitonin gene-related peptide and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide on the healing of venous stasis ulcers of the extremities was carried out on 66 patients. Two randomized groups of patients were compared, one receiving standard treatment plus iontophoresis of calcitonin gene-related peptide and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, and the other receiving standard treatment plus placebo iontophoresis. Calcitonin gene-related peptide and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide were administered locally by iontophoresis for 20 min three times weekly for 12 weeks. To determine the effects of the two treatments, the percentage surface area of ulcer healed and the number of healed ulcers were compared after 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 weeks of treatment. The results demonstrate that there were significant improvements of the healing process in the group treated with calcitonin gene-related peptide and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide when compared with placebo iontophoresis, and support the use of iontophoresis administration of calcitonin gene-related peptide and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in the treatment of venous ulcers.