Study of Efficacy of Intralesional Triamcinolone Versus Intralesional Bleomycin in Treatment of Keloids and Hypertrophic Scars

Introduction
Hypertrophic scars and keloids are the result of prolonged inflammation in the reticular dermis. There are various treatment options but none of them provides complete cure.

Objective
1) To study the clinical efficacy and adverse effects of intralesional triamcinolone acetonide in the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars. 2) To study the clinical efficacy and adverse effects of intralesional bleomycin in the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars. 3) To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of intralesional triamcinolone acetonide and intralesional bleomycin in the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars.

Material and methods
This hospital-based prospective study included a total of 170 patients who attended the outpatient Department of Dermatology at a tertiary care center over a period of 2 years. After obtaining written informed consent, patients with keloids and hypertrophic scars were assigned to two groups. Group A received intralesional triamcinolone (40 mg/ml), and Group B received intralesional bleomycin (1.5 IU/ml). Treatment was repeated at 3-week intervals for up to 15 weeks or until clinical resolution, whichever occurred first. Treatment response was assessed using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) at baseline and prior to each session, continuing for up to 3 weeks after the completion of therapy. For each patient, both the absolute reduction in POSAS scores and the percentage reduction from baseline were calculated.

Results and conclusions
Based on the results of our study, we conclude that both treatment options have comparable efficacy irrespective of the scar type.