The use of biatain Ag in hard-to-heal venous leg ulcers: meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Abstract

Background: Venous leg ulcers are common, troublesome, and their failure to heal is often related to a heavy bio-burden. Ionized silver has both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. The ulcer healing properties of the silver releasing foam dressing Biatain Ag has been examined in 4 randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Aim: To evaluate ulcer healing through a meta-analytic approach after treatment with either Biatain Ag or a non-active dressing.

Patients and methods: 685 subjects with pure or mixed hard-to-heal venous leg ulcers were included in the meta-analysis.

Results: Biatain Ag showed a significant treatment effect (p<0.0001), responder rate (p<0.001), and healing rate (p = 0.002).

Conclusion: The meta-analysis of the 4 RCTs provided statistical significant evidence to support the use of Biatain Ag dressing in treatment of hard-to-heal venous leg ulcers.

Figure 1. Flow chart of literature search.

Figure 2. Forest plot showing the estimated treatment differences defined by percentage relative reduction.

The solid vertical line represents a treatment difference of zero. The confidence intervals (95%) are illustrated by the length of the horizontal lines. The sizes of the filled circles are adjusted to the size of the corresponding study.