title: Effect of recombinant epidermal growth factor on ocular surface re-epithelization following amniotic membrane transplantation in patients with pterygium excision.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) on ocular surface re-epithelization and the efficacy of amniotic membrane transplantation in patients with pterygium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Amniotic membrane transplantation was performed on 40 eyes of 36 patients with pterygium after removal of pterygium. All the eyes were randomly divided into 2 groups: 20 eyes received rhEGF ophthalmic solution and the other 20 drug vehicle. The healing rates of the corneal and conjunctival epithelium were observed respectively. Follow-up study lasting for 3 to 12 months was conducted in all the cases postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The healing rate of both the corneal and conjunctival epithelium in rhEGF-treated group (74.983+/-18.998 micrometer/h and 36.584+/-7.888 micrometer/h respectively) was significantly faster than the control (59.372+/-17.197 +/-m/h and 29.18+/-5.450 micrometer/h respectively, P<0.01 for both comparisons). Follow-up witnessed no recurrence of the disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  rhEGF effectively promotes the healing of ocular surface epithelium defect, and amniotic membrane transplantation is a good surgical procedure for treating pterygium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, 401 Hospital of PLA, Qingdao 266071, China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yue-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Dong-Mei
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yu-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Hai-Yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000650:Amnion / Q000637:transplantation*; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D005123:Eye / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011625:Pterygium / Q000601:surgery*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor