Effectiveness of oral platelet lysate gel to treat oral mucosal manifestations associated with chronic graft versus host disease.

BACKGROUND

Chronic graft-vs-host disease (cGvHD) is a severe immune-mediated complication that affects patients following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Oral manifestations of cGvHD, such as ulcers and mucosal inflammation, significantly impair quality of life and often require long-term treatment. Existing therapies provide limited relief, prompting the exploration of new approaches, including the use of autologous platelet lysate (PL) gel for its regenerative properties.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This observational study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of a topical autologous PL gel in treating oral ulcers associated with cGvHD in seven patients who had undergone allo-HSCT for hematological malignancies. The PL gel was prepared by mixing autologous PL with a gel base under aseptic conditions, and patients applied the gel three times daily. Clinical assessments, including the severity of oral damage and pain levels, were conducted using the NIH-CTCAE scale.

RESULTS

Of the seven patients treated, five completed the study with a median follow-up of 20 months. Significant reductions in oral damage severity and pain levels were observed, with a p-value of 0.0495 for symptom severity and 0.0196 for pain reduction. The average adherence rate was 81.4%, and no adverse effects were reported.

DISCUSSION

The study demonstrated that autologous PL gel is a promising and well-tolerated treatment for oral manifestations of cGvHD, offering significant symptom relief. Despite the small sample size, these findings align with previous studies and support further research into PL gel as a therapeutic option in cGvHD management.