title: [Use of growth factors in therapy of chronic wounds. Experimental, clinical and financial aspects].
abstract: Clinical trials on exogenous application of polypeptide growth factors in chronic wounds have not fulfilled the high expectations derived from results of experimental studies. There is no convincing evidence that growth factors may substitute for good wound care and efficient surgical approaches to wound closure. The ultimate goal of treatment of chronic ulcerations remains reconstitution of a durable skin envelope without unstable scarring. Therefore, optimization of current methods of wound therapy, including reconstructive vascular and plastic surgery and adequate metabolic and wound control, should be employed before any adjuvant growth factor therapy is attempted. As long as efficient and inexpensive therapy of chronic wounds by growth factors has not been demonstrated, empincal growth factor treatment should be rejected on scientific and economic grounds. Current use appears to be reasonable only under a regime of controlled clinical studies comparing growth factor treatment with conventional wound therapy and operative measures according to the rules of "good clinical practice".
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Plastische Chirurgie und Schwerbrandverletzte, Ruhr-Universität Bochum.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Vogt
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Topsakal
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: H U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Steinau
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances
vernacular_title: Zum Einsatz von Wachstumsfaktoren in der Therapie chronischer Wunden. Experimentelle, klinische und finanzielle Aspekte.