EUREKA study - the evaluation of real-life use of a biophotonic system in chronic wound management: an interim analysis

Drug Des Devel Ther. 2017 Dec 11:11:3551-3558. doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S142580. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Objective: Interest has grown regarding photobiomodulation (PBM) with low-level light therapy, which has been shown to positively affect the stages of the wound healing process. In a real-life context clinical setting, the objective of the EUREKA study was to investigate efficacy, safety, and quality of life associated with the use of a BioPhotonic gel (LumiHeal™) in the treatment of chronic wounds such as venous leg ulcers (VLUs), diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), and pressure ulcers (PUs). This BioPhotonic gel represents a new, first-in-class emission spectrum of light, including fluorescence, to induce PBM and modulate healing.

Design: The multicenter, prospective, interventional, uncontrolled, open-label study enrolled 100 patients in 12 wound centers in Italy. We performed an early interim analysis based on the first 33 subjects (13 VLU, 17 DFU, 3 PU) in seven centers who completed the study.

Main results: Seventeen patients (52%) achieved total wound closure (full re-epithelialization for 2 weeks) during the study period. Two patients (6%) were considered "almost closed" (decrease of the wound area of more than 90% at study end) and three others (9%) were considered "ready for skin grafting". No related serious adverse events were observed, and the compliance was excellent. After the treatment, the average time to "pain-free" was 11.9 days in the VLU group. Quality of life was improved with overall increase of 26.4% of the total score (Cardiff Wound Impact Schedule, p=0.001).

Conclusion: The study revealed a positive efficacy profile of the BioPhotonic gel in promoting wound healing and reactivating the healing process in different types of chronic, hard-to-heal wounds. The treatment was shown to be safe and well tolerated by the patients, and a reduction of pain perception was also detected during the treatment period. The improvement of the quality of life was accompanied by a high level of clinician satisfaction.

Keywords: DFUs; PUs; VLUs; biophotonics; diabetic foot ulcers; fluorescence biomodulation; hard-to-heal wounds; light; photobiomodulation; phototherapy; pressure ulcers; venous leg ulcers.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Chronic Disease
  • Fluorescence*
  • Gels / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Phototherapy*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Quality of Life
  • Ulcer / therapy*
  • Wound Healing / drug effects*

Substances

  • Gels