A Literature Review of Pharmacological Agents to Improve Venous Leg Ulcer Healing

Abstract

Compression therapy is the gold standard treatment for venous leg ulcers (VLUs); however, with adjunctive pharmacological therapies and poor patient adherence using compressive dressings, clinicians are looking to find the advantage in treating VLUs. This literature review focuses on the efficacy of pharmacological agents, quality of life using agents in addition to compression therapy, and cost effectiveness to indicate the best outcomes for pharmacological treatment of VLUs. The following available venotonic, hemorheologic, and fibrinolytic agents were reviewed for oral management in treating VLUs: pentoxifylline, flavonoids (diosmin, hidrosmin, rutosides, and micronized purified flavonoid fraction, Vasculera), Red-Vine-Leaf-Extract AS 195, Ruscus, Ginkgo biloba, Centella asiatica, Pycnogenol (French maritime pine bark), escin/horse chestnut extract, nutritional supplements (ie, zinc and magnesium, glycosaminoglycans [sulodexide], mesoglycans), Axaven, cilostazol, fibrinolytic enhancers (stanozolol and defibrotide), calcium dobesilate, aspirin, antibiotics (antimicrobials, doxycycline, levamisole), diuretics, cinnarizine, naftazone, and benzarone. Venous leg ulcer pharmacological treatment options were searched in the English language from February 2020 to March 2020 using numerous databases and sites, such as PubMed. Drugs used adjunctively with compression therapy that facilitate healing in long-standing or large VLUs include micronized purified flavonoid fraction, pentoxifylline, sulodexide, and mesoglycan.