Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39804749›Full record

ArticleBlood transfusion = Trasfusione del sangue

First use of cord blood platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of vulvar lichen sclerosus: a preliminary study towards a randomized controlled trial.

Veronica Boero, Carlotta Caia, Giulia E Cetera, Elisa Pesce, Serena Uccello, Stefania Villa, Tiziana Montemurro, Larysa Mykhailova, Camilla E M Merli, Ermelinda Monti and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Blood transfusion = Trasfusione del sangue. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Regenerative Approaches in Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus: A Systematic Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. The impact of anxiety on vulvar dermatological diseases: a systematic review.International journal of women's dermatology · 2026
    Review
  3. Review
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

13 authors.

Veronica BoeroGynecology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
Carlotta CaiaGynecology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
Giulia E CeteraGynecology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
Elisa PesceGynecology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
Serena UccelloDepartment of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Stefania VillaDepartment of Transfusion Medicine and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milano, Milan, Italy.
Tiziana MontemurroDepartment of Transfusion Medicine and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milano, Milan, Italy.
Larysa MykhailovaDepartment of Transfusion Medicine and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milano, Milan, Italy.
Camilla E M MerliGynecology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
Ermelinda MontiGynecology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
Flavia FilippiGynaecologic and Obstetrics Clinic, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Paolo VercelliniAcademic Center for Research on Adenomyosis and Endometriosis, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
Daniele PratiDepartment of Transfusion Medicine and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milano, Milan, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlthough topical corticosteroids (TCS) represent first-line treatment for vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) and as such should be prescribed to all women at time of diagnosis, approximately 30% of patients do not experience complete symptom resolution following such treatment. TCS may not effectively improve vulvar trophism and elasticity, both of which are crucial for sexual function. Owing to its regenerative and healing properties, cord blood platelet-rich plasma (CB-PRP) may represent an efficacious supplementary therapy, to be administered following first line treatment with TCS. The primary aim of this study was to assess safety and tolerability of CB-PRP in women with VLS. MATERIALS AND

methodsThis is a pilot study which precedes a randomized controlled trial of CB-PRP vs placebo in women with VLS. Ten consecutive patients with VLS, who had previously undergone standard TCS-treatment, received three vulvar CB-PRP injections monthly. Follow-up was conducted three months after the last injection using vulvoscopy and validated questionnaires to evaluate safety and tolerability, as well as patient satisfaction, symptom improvement, sexual function, psychological well-being, quality of life, frequency of TCS application as a maintenance treatment, vulvar trophism and architectural modifications.

resultsNo adverse clinical effects were observed. Five patients (50%) were either satisfied or very satisfied with the procedure, four (40%) were uncertain about their satisfaction with the treatment. One patient (10%) dropped out for personal reasons and was classified as unsatisfied according to an intention-to-treat analysis. At follow-up median numeric rating scale scores were significantly reduced for vulvar burning compared to baseline (p<0.05) there was a trend toward improvement in itching, dyspareunia, and dysuria. A significant improvement in sexual arousal and satisfaction was observed in all treated women (p<0.05). DISCUSSION: CB-PRP may be a promising treatment for VLS. It appears to be safe and improve symptoms and sexual function.

Indexed as

Fetal BloodPlatelet-Rich PlasmaVulvar Lichen SclerosusAdultAgedFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMiddle AgedPatient SatisfactionPilot ProjectsRandomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Identifiers

PMID39804749
PMCPMC12274200

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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.