Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38523203›Full record

ArticleArchives of gynecology and obstetrics2024

Is there a role for platelet rich plasma injection in vulvar lichen sclerosus? A self-controlled pilot study.

Veronica Boero, Giulia Emily Cetera, Carlotta Caia, Stefania Villa, Tiziana Montemurro, Massimiliano Brambilla, Ermelinda Monti, Maria Iorio, Edgardo Somigliana, Paolo Vercellini and 1 more

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In one paragraph

Article in Archives of gynecology and obstetrics, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
4.0field-weighted citation impact, top 6% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. The impact of anxiety on vulvar dermatological diseases: a systematic review.International journal of women's dermatology · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Veronica Boero *Gynecology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8461-4610
Giulia Emily Cetera *Academic Center for Research on Adenomyosis and Endometriosis, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Gynecology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' GrandaOspedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8434-6284
Carlotta CaiaGynecology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-8761-9839
Stefania VillaDepartment of Transfusion Medicine and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
Tiziana MontemurroDepartment of Transfusion Medicine and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
Massimiliano BrambillaPlastic Surgery Service, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
Ermelinda MontiGynecology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2358-1568
Maria IorioGynecology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
Edgardo SomiglianaGynecology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
Paolo VercelliniAcademic Center for Research on Adenomyosis and Endometriosis, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Gynecology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' GrandaOspedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4195-0996
Daniele PratiDepartment of Transfusion Medicine and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. daniele.prati@policlinico.mi.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2281-7498
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico · ITUniversity of Milan · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOwing to the evidence that as many as 30-40% of patients with vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) fail to report a remission of symptoms with first-line corticosteroid treatment (TCS), especially as what regards dyspareunia, we aimed to analyze patients' satisfaction following vulvar injection of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP). This is intended as an adjunctive treatment, to be used following TCS, and appears to promote tissue repair. It may also possibly have immunomodulatory proprieties. MATERIALS AND

methodsPatients with VLS were considered eligible for this pilot study if, despite having been treated with a 3-month TCS regimen, they reported a persistence of symptoms. PRP was produced in a referral center using a manual method and a standardized protocol. Each patient received three treatments 4 to 6 weeks apart.

resultsA total of 50 patients with a median age of 53 years [IQR 38-59 years] were included in the study. 6 months after the last injection of PRP all patients were either satisfied or very satisfied with the treatment (100%; 95% CI 93-100%). Median NRS scores for itching, burning, dyspareunia and dysuria were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) and FSFI, HADS and SF-12 questionnaires revealed a significant improvement in sexual function, psychological wellbeing and quality of life (p < 0.05). The number of patients reporting the need for maintenance TCS treatment was reduced by 42% (p < 0.001) and an improvement in vulvar elasticity and color was reported in all patients.

conclusionFollowing standard medical therapy, PRP may be effective not only in improving symptoms, but also in restoring function.

Indexed as

DyspareuniaPatient SatisfactionPlatelet-Rich PlasmaVulvar Lichen SclerosusAdultFemaleHumansInjectionsMiddle AgedPilot ProjectsTreatment OutcomeCorticosteroidsNon-responsePlatelet-rich plasmaVulvar lichen sclerosus

Identifiers

PMID38523203
OpenAlexW4393126415

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.