Epidemiological, clinical, pathological and genetic characteristics of epidermolysis bullosa in New Zealand.

Objective: To establish the epidemiological, clinical, pathological and genetic characteristics of epidermolysis bullosa (EB) in New Zealand (NZ).

Methods: Participants were recruited through the Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association of New Zealand (DEBRA NZ). Dedicated EB nurse medical records, Genetic Health Service NZ (GHSNZ) records and, where available, public hospital records were manually reviewed for relevant clinical data.

Keratin-based products for effective wound care management in superficial and partial thickness burns injuries.

This n=40 cohort study on superficial and partial thickness burns compares novel keratin-based products with the standard products used at our facility. The keratin products are found to facilitate healing with minimal scarring, be well tolerated with minimal pain and itch, be easy to use for the health professional and be cost effective for the health care provider. For these reasons they are being adopted into use at our facility.

Keratin gel improves poor scarring following median sternotomy.

Background: Linear hypertrophic scarring is a common surgical problem that can be difficult to manage. This article evaluates median sternotomy wounds that have often been reported to scar poorly resulting in hypertrophic scar formation.

Methods: This study is a single-blinded, open-labelled pilot study of 20 patients using keratin gel as the intervention and aqueous cream as the control, which are each applied to a different half of the wound daily over 6 months.

Use of a keratin-based wound dressing in the management of wounds in a patient with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa is a rare, autosomal recessive blistering condition. The authors successfully treated a patient with a novel keratin-based dressing. Starting at 11 months, 1 hand and 1 foot of the patient was treated, and significant improvement was observed.

Use of a keratin-based hydrogel in the management of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.

A new keratin-based hydrogel wound dressing was applied to the neck of a patient who was suffering from recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. A significant improvement was observed in the robustness of skin in this area: reduced propensity to blister and improved healing of blisters. The improvement allowed the cessation of use of secondary dressings for this area.