Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40902148›Full record

ArticleJMIR research protocols2025

Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Saline for the Treatment of Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Tran Nguyen, Milica Beljic, Nadia Willison, Mahshid Taheri, Pouria Aryan, Derek Abbott, Fariba Behnia-Willison

Abstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR research protocols, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

7 authors.

Tran NguyenDiscipline of Biomedical Engineering, School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-2901-9755
Milica BeljicFBW Gynaecology Plus, Ashford, Australia.ORCID 0009-0002-1390-2145
Nadia WillisonDiscipline of Biomedical Engineering, School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.ORCID 0009-0004-3570-2499
Mahshid TaheriFBW Gynaecology Plus, Ashford, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-9590-6061
Pouria AryanDiscipline of Biomedical Engineering, School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-2844-4706
Derek AbbottDiscipline of Biomedical Engineering, School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-0945-2674
Fariba Behnia-WillisonDiscipline of Biomedical Engineering, School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-9742-507X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundVulvar lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic relapsing dermatosis commonly affecting the anogenital region in postmenopausal women, though it can affect people of any age and sex. The current gold standard treatment is lifelong topical steroid application to reduce symptoms and prevent the progression of disease, causing irreversible architectural change to the vulval tissue. LS is associated with decreased quality of life and increased risk of vulvar neoplasia. Alternatives to current treatments are highly desired by both clinicians and patients. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous blood product containing high concentrations of platelets and growth factors and is hypothesized to promote wound healing. PRP has been reported to improve symptoms of LS in several case reports and uncontrolled trials.

objectiveThis study aims to evaluate the efficacy of PRP versus saline injections to improve the clinical signs and symptoms of LS.

methodsThis is a protocol for a 12-month, single-center, parallel-group, double-blind, randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of PRP for LS compared to saline. Adult female patients with biopsy-proven LS who are otherwise in good health but are nonresponders to topical steroid treatment prior to inclusion are eligible for the trial. A total of 68 participants will be randomly allocated via a random number generator to receive either PRP or saline injections to areas of the vulva with LS. All participants will be blinded to the intervention received. Participants will be followed up with assessments of clinical LS signs, subjective symptom scores, and quality of life questionnaires by blinded assessors at 4 timepoints: baseline, 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months. The primary outcome is the clinical scoring system for LS-the total LS score.

resultsRecruitment commenced in May 2020 and concluded in November 2023. This study closed in September 2024 due to slow recruitment. Data are being analyzed in 2025, and results are expected to be published in late 2025.

conclusionsThis study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of PRP injections compared to those of saline injections for the treatment of vulvar LS, potentially providing a novel therapeutic option for patients who do not respond to topical steroids.

trial registrationAustralia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12618001321235p; Universal Trial Number: U1111-1207-4893; anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=375536. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/68871.

Indexed as

Platelet-Rich PlasmaSaline SolutionVulvar Lichen SclerosusAdultDouble-Blind MethodFemaleHumansMiddle AgedQuality of LifeRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeSaline Solutionautologous therapiesclinical trial protocolsfemale sexual healthregenerative medicinevulvar dermatoseswomen’s health research

Identifiers

PMID40902148
PMCPMC12444214

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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 OpenQuestion graph.