Cream provides relief for leg ulcers in SCD

Effects on pain and blood flow

One of the most interesting findings of this study, according to Dr Minniti, was the effect of the cream on patients’ pain.

There was a significant decrease in patient-reported pain for treated ulcers (P<0.006) but not for untreated ulcers (P=0.38). And there was a significant correlation with pain score and nitrate concentration (P=0.006).

Patients’ weekly total usage of opioids decreased from baseline to the end of the study, but this difference was not significant (P=0.26).

“There was a trend toward significance,” Dr Minniti noted. “It’s very hard, in 1 month, to get off your long-acting opioid.”

Finally, Dr Minniti and her colleagues found that blood flow to the wound area changed before and after treatment. According to laser speckle contrast imaging, there was a significant increase in blood flow after treatment (P<0.0002).

Based on these results, the researchers have initiated a phase 1/2, randomized trial comparing topical sodium nitrate to placebo in SCD patients.