Stimulation of healing of chronic wounds by epidermal growth factor.
We evaluated the effect of topical epidermal growth factor treatment on healing of chronic wounds in a prospective, open-label, crossover trial. Five males and four females who ranged in age from 40 to 72 years (average 57 +/- 9 years) were enrolled. Four patients had adult-onset diabetes mellitus, two had rheumatoid arthritis, two had old burn scars, and one had a failed abdominal incision. The average duration of the ulcers prior to treatment with epidermal growth factor was 12 +/- 5 months (range 1 to 48 months). Following failure of the wounds to heal with conventional therapies, including debridement, skin graphs, and vascular reconstruction, wounds were treated twice daily with Silvadene alone for periods ranging from 3 weeks to 6 months. No evidence of healing was observed in any of the patients' wounds during Silvadene treatment, and patients were crossed over to twice a day treatment with Silvadene containing 10 micrograms epidermal growth factor per gram. Wounds of eight patients healed completely with epidermal growth factor-Silvadene treatment in an average of 34 +/- 26 days (mean +/- SD, range 12 to 92 days) and did not reoccur for periods ranging from 1 to 4 years. One patient failed therapy. These results suggest that topical treatment of chronic wounds with epidermal growth factor may stimulate healing.
Brown
G L
GL
Department of Surgery, University of Louisville, Ky.
Curtsinger
L
L
Jurkiewicz
M J
MJ
Nahai
F
F
Schultz
G
G
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012837:Silver Sulfadiazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D012837:Silver Sulfadiazine