Regeneration of aged vocal fold: first human case treated with fibroblast growth factor.
OBJECTIVE
Aged vocal folds are characterized by atrophy of the mucosa, which causes dysphonia and is difficult to treat. We have revealed a therapeutic potential of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) for tissue regeneration of the aged vocal fold. We report here the first human case that has been treated with bFGF.


METHODS
Institutional review board approved clinical human trial.


METHODS
A 63-year-old man with atrophied vocal folds was treated by local injection of 10 muicrog of bFGF into the left vocal fold under topical anesthesia. The effects of the injection were examined after 1 to 3 months by videostroboscopy, acoustic and aerodynamic measurements.


RESULTS
The atrophy of the vocal fold was improved at 1 week after the injection and glottic gap disappeared. Aerodynamic and acoustic parameters also showed remarkable improvement. These positive effects were maintained up to 3 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The first case with aged vocal folds treated with bFGF administration is presented. The results are encouraging, suggesting therapeutic effects of bFGF for atrophied vocal folds in human.
Hirano
Shigeru
S
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. hirano@ent.kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Kishimoto
Yo
Y
Suehiro
Atsushi
A
Kanemaru
Shin-ichi
S
Ito
Juichi
J
D000367:Age Factors; D001284:Atrophy; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006685:Hoarseness / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D010699:Phonation / Q000187:drug effects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D013018:Sound Spectrography; D049489:Stroboscopy; D014741:Video Recording; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2