Decubital ulcers contribute to morbidity and mortality in elderly pati
ents. Macrophages play a major role in the process of wound healing. W
e compared the efficacy of local treatment of decubital ulcers in elde
rly patients using macrophages prepared from a blood unit, vs. convent
ional treatments. Patients with decubital ulcers (n = 199) hospitalize
d during one year in a Geriatric Hospital in Israel, were included in
the study. The ulcers of 72 patients (average age 82), who provided in
formed consent, by themselves or by family, were treated by local inje
ction of macrophages prepared from a blood unit in a closed sterile sy
stem. The remaining 127 patients (average age 79) were treated convent
ionally and served as controls. No exclusion criteria were applied. On
ly a completely healed ulcer was considered a positive outcome of trea
tment. In the macrophage-treated group 27% (36 out of 131 ulcers) were
healed compared to 6% (15 out of 248) in the control group (p < 0.001
). There was also a significantly faster healing in the experimental g
roup (p < 0.02). NO Side effects were noted. We conclude that Macropha
ges prepared from a blood unit, in cost-effective, closed, sterile sys
tem, are significantly more effective than conventional methods for th
e treatment of ulcers in elderly patients. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science I
nc.