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Oral Treatment of Pressure Ulcers with Polaprezinc (Zinc L-carnosine Complex): 8-Week Open-Label Trial

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Abstract

Polaprezinc (zinc L-carnosine complex) is a tablet commonly prescribed for gastric ulcers in Japan. Recently, we reported the effects of polaprezinc on pressure ulcer healing at 4-week follow-up. We aimed to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of polaprezinc in 8-week treatment for chronic pressure ulcers. Patients with stage II–IV pressure ulcers for ≥8 weeks received 150 mg/day polaprezinc (containing 116 mg L-carnosine and 34 mg zinc) per os for a maximum of 8 weeks. We measured the severity of pressure ulcers weekly using the Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) score and monitored blood biochemistry. Fourteen patients (nine men; 68.4 ± 11.8 years) were enrolled. Pressure ulcer stages were II (one patient; 7 %), III (nine; 64 %), and IV (four; 29 %). The PUSH score improved significantly from 8.1 [95 % CI, 6.0–10.3] at baseline to −1.4 [−4.0 to 1.1] after 8 weeks (P < 0.001). Differences from baseline were significant after 1 week (P < 0.05). The mean weekly improvement in PUSH score was 2.0. Eleven patients healed within 8 weeks and none dropped out. Serum zinc levels increased significantly (P < 0.001), whereas serum copper levels (P = 0.001) and copper/zinc ratios (P < 0.001) decreased significantly. In one patient, preexisting copper deficiency deteriorated. These preliminary data suggest that polaprezinc may be effective and well-tolerated in 8-week treatment of pressure ulcers and could be a candidate for their oral treatment.

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Acknowledgments

We thank K. Sekiguchi for supporting assessments of dietary intake, as well as the nurses of Yashio Hospital and Morinoie Yashio for the evaluation of PUs and data collection. This study was not supported by research funds from external sources or by grants.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Correspondence to Hiroyuki Yanagisawa.

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Sakae, K., Yanagisawa, H. Oral Treatment of Pressure Ulcers with Polaprezinc (Zinc L-carnosine Complex): 8-Week Open-Label Trial. Biol Trace Elem Res 158, 280–288 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-014-9943-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-014-9943-5

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