Bleomycin in the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars by multiple needle punctures

BACKGROUND. The treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars has been diffic ult and a recent French study showed that bleomycin has been useful in the treatment of these lesions. OBJECTIVE. To determine the effectiveness and safety of bleomycin in the tr eatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids when this drug is administered th rough multiple superficial punctures, METHODS. We applied bleomycin to keloids and hypertrophic scars in 13 patie nts using a multiple-puncture method on the surface of the skin. All patien ts were given bleomycin at a concentration of 1.5 IU/ml. Clinical response after treatment was classified according to the following scale: complete f lattening (100%), highly significant flattening (>90%), or significant flat tening (75-90%), RESULTS. The clinical response was very positive in all cases: complete fla ttening in six cases, highly significant flattening in six cases, and signi ficant flattening in one case. Two patients presented a recurrence as a sma ll nodule 10 and 12 months after the last infiltration, CONCLUSIONS. These clinical findings show that administration of bleomycin in keloids and hypertrophic scars shows promise and needs further investiga tion.