Human amniotic membrane grafts in therapy of chronic non-healing wounds

Abstract

Background: Human amniotic membrane (HAM) has been embraced as a natural wound dressing almost exclusively in ophthalmology. Only recently, emergence of commercial HAM products prompted its use in growing range of indications, especially treatment of chronic non-healing wounds.

Sources of data: ClinicalTrials.gov database and International Clinical Trials Registry Platform searched with key words 'human amniotic membrane' and 'chronic wounds'.

Areas of agreement: HAM can be successfully used as a natural wound dressing to promote healing.

Areas of controversy: It is still unclear, which preparation is more advantageous, cryopreserved HAM or dehydrated HAM.

Growing points: There are an increasing number of commercial HAM products and clinical trials for a variety of dermatological diagnoses.

Areas timely for developing research: In spite of easy procurement and low production costs, to our knowledge, there are currently only a few manufacturers of commercial HAM products tested in clinical trials for cutaneous wounds and all of them are located in the USA.

Keywords: burns; chronic wounds; diabetic foot ulcer; human amniotic membrane; natural wound dressing; recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.