Bleomycin in the Treatment of Keloids and Hypertrophic Scars by Multiple Needle Punctures

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars has been difficult and a recent French study showed that bleomycin has been useful in the treatment of these lesions. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness and safety of bleomycin in the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids when this drug is administered through multiple superficial punctures. METHODS: We applied bleomycin to keloids and hypertrophic scars in 13 patients using a multiple-puncture method on the surface of the skin. All patients were given bleomycin at a concentration of 1.5 IU/ml. Clinical response after treatment was classified according to the following scale: complete flattening (100%), highly significant flattening (>90%), or significant flattening (75-90%). RESULTS: The clinical response was very positive in all cases: complete flattening in six cases, highly significant flattening in six cases, and significant flattening in one case. Two patients presented a recurrence as a small nodule 10 and 12 months after the last infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: These clinical findings show that administration of bleomycin in keloids and hypertrophic scars shows promise and needs further investigation.