collagenase
Regulatory sources consulted
Approved indications
- Enzymatic debridement of chronic dermal ulcers and severely burned areas.
Contraindications
Absolute
- Local or systemic hypersensitivity to collagenase.
Clinical warnings
- Major warning · Avoid acidic solutions, certain detergents, and antiseptics containing metal ions such as silver or mercury, which reduce enzyme activity. If used, wash repeatedly with saline. Monitor debilitated patients for bacteremia and stop until an unresponsive infection is controlled. — openFDA COLLAGENASE SANTYL ointment set ID 6b6fbfc6-98fa-46aa-88ef-ab00fbb08ffd
- Transient perilesional erythema may occur; confine the ointment to the wound. If infection is present, apply a compatible topical antibiotic first; discontinue collagenase until the infection is controlled if it does not respond. — openFDA COLLAGENASE SANTYL ointment set ID 6b6fbfc6-98fa-46aa-88ef-ab00fbb08ffd
Adverse events
Rare but serious
Systemic manifestations of hypersensitivity
Pregnancy and lactation
No specific recommendation is established for pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Recent literature (PubMed)
Dupuytren's contracture is a chronic condition that affects the palmar fascia, leading to progressive flexion of the fingers, particularly the ring and little fingers. This article provides an in-depth review of the current understanding of the condition and its management. Commonly seen in older men of Northern European descent, Dupuytren's can significantly impair hand function as contractures develop. The underlying mechanisms involve complex cellular processes, particularly the role of transforming growth factor-beta in promoting fibroblast activity and collagen buildup. Treatment strategies depend on the severity of the condition; nonsurgical options like collagenase injections and needle aponeurotomy are effective for early stages but often have high recurrence rates. For more advanced cases, surgical options such as limited and radical fasciectomy are considered, aiming to restore finger extension while addressing potential complications. Challenges in management include high recurrence rates and variability in disease progression, emphasizing the need for standardized assessment protocols and innovative therapeutic approaches. This review underscores the importance of early diagnosis and intervention to preserve hand function and enhance quality of life. It calls for ongoing research into targeted therapies to reduce recurrence rates.
Keratoconus is a progressive disease characterized by changes in corneal shape, resulting in loss of visual function. There remains a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding its underlying pathophysiology. This review aims to bridge this gap by exploring structural failures and inflammatory processes involved in the etiology and progression of keratoconus. A literature review was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar databases, screening for articles published in English using the keyword combinations of "keratoconus" with "pathophysiology," "pathology," "metabolism," "inflammatory," "oxidative stress," "cytokines," "enzymes," "collagen," and "cornea." Articles published between January 1, 1970, and June 1, 2023, were queried and reviewed, with greater emphasis placed on more recent data. Fifty-six relevant studies were examined to develop a thorough review of the pathophysiological mechanisms at play in keratoconus. Biomechanical structural failures in the cornea seem to be the primary militating factors in keratoconus etiology and progression. These include disruptions in the arrangement in the collagen lamellae, a decrease in collagen levels, a decrease in natural collagen crosslinking, and changes in lysosomal enzyme activity. Immunologic changes have also been identified in keratoconus, challenging the traditional view of the condition as noninflammatory. Elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines like IL-1b, IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α have been observed, along with increased apoptosis of keratocytes. Increased oxidative stress leads to the activation of collagenase and gelatinase enzymes. Keratoconus is a complex condition influenced by both structural defects and inflammatory processes. Understanding these mechanisms can inform clinical management and potentially lead to more effective treatments.
Drug-induced gingival overgrowth (DIGO) is one of the side effects produced by therapeutic agents, most commonly phenytoin, nifedipine and cyclosporin A. However, the precise mechanism of DIGO is not entirely understood. A literature search of the MEDLINE/PubMed databases was conducted to identify the mechanisms involved in DIGO. The available information suggests that the pathogenesis of DIGO is multifactorial, but common pathogenic sequelae of events emerge, i.e., sodium and calcium channel antagonism or disturbed intracellular handling of calcium, which finally lead to reductions in intracellular folic acid levels. Disturbed cellular functions, mainly in keratinocytes and fibroblasts, result in increased collagen and glycosaminoglycans accumulation in the extracellular matrix. Dysregulation of collagenase activity, as well as integrins and membrane receptors, are key mechanisms of reduced degradation or excessive synthesis of connective tissue components. This manuscript describes the cellular and molecular factors involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and extracellular matrix remodeling triggered by agents producing DIGO.
Cellulite is a highly prevalent and aesthetically distressing skin condition. Whilst there are a variety of treatment modalities, none are definitively established. This systematic review aims to assess invasive and noninvasive treatment modalities for cellulite management. The review protocol was published and registered a priori (PROSPERO CRD42022359334). A comprehensive electronic search for relevant randomised controlled trials, (RCTs) was performed in CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase and Web of Science databases. Study quality and risk of bias were assessed using Cochrane's risk of bias tool, respectively. Overall, 753 studies were initially identified, of which 24 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) satisfied the eligibility criteria with a total of 2084 patients with a mean follow-up of 3.33 ± 13.4 weeks. Evaluated interventions included mechanical stimulation, topical therapy, shock wave therapy (SWT), laser and light-based devices, radiofrequency therapy, subcutaneous injectables, and ultrasound. SWT emerged as a standout intervention, demonstrating a consistent cellulite reduction score of 2.07 ± 0.39 across four studies. Radiofrequency therapy exhibited a statistically significant reduction of thigh circumference (- 2.09 cm, p < 0.001) and subcutaneous tissue thickness (- 2.23 cm, p < 0.001). Subcutaneous injectables, specifically collagenase Clostridium histolyticum-aaes, demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the clinician-reported photonumeric cellulite severity scale (17.0%) and patient-reported photonumeric cellulite severity scale (25.7%) (p < 0.001). The overall quality of the studies using the grading of recommendations, assessment, development and evaluation approach was moderate. This is the first methodologically robust systematic review evaluating interventions for cellulite. SWT, radiofrequency therapy, and subcutaneous injectables have shown promising findings in cellulite treatment. The journal asks authors to assign a level of evi
Many morphological and histological changes take place in aging skin. Topical tretinoin is the gold standard anti-aging agent used to reduce signs of aging through stimulation of epidermal growth and differentiation and inhibition of collagenase. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize studies evaluating the efficacy of tretinoin compared with other topical medications and cosmeceuticals in reducing the appearance of skin aging. A systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The literature search was conducted using the PubMed and Embase databases from conception to December 2023. Studies were included if they compared anti-aging outcomes of topical medications with those of topical tretinoin (also called all-trans retinoic acid and retinoic acid). Studies were excluded if they compared non-topical anti-aging treatments with tretinoin or were conducted on animal models. The literature search resulted in 25 studies that met all inclusion and exclusion criteria. The most common study comparators to tretinoin included other forms of vitamin A. Outcomes were reported on the basis of visual reduction of aging signs, histological assessment of the epidermis and dermis, and protein expression. Although comparators to tretinoin had variable efficacy (greater in 7 studies, equivalent in 13 studies, and less in 3 studies), most studies found the comparator to be less irritating and better tolerated by patients than tretinoin. Tretinoin is currently the gold standard therapy for the treatment of photoaging, but its poor tolerability often limits its use. Unfortunately, given that most studies comparing topical therapies with tretinoin are of poor quality and/or demonstrate bias, there is a lack of substantial evidence to support an alternative first-line therapy. However, given there are some data to support the efficacy of retinoid precursors, namely retinaldehyde, pro-retinal na