title: Outcome of regenerative therapy for age-related vocal fold atrophy with basic fibroblast growth factor.
abstract: Age-related vocal fold atrophy has become a significant voice disorder as the elderly population grows. However, several therapeutic challenges have limited attempts to improve voice quality. We reported that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) stimulates fibroblasts to produce extracellular matrices such as hyaluronic acid in the lamina propria, leading to a regeneration of pliable vocal folds in animal models. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of bFGF for the treatment of age-related vocal fold atrophy.
  
  
  
  Prospective study.
  
  
  
  Six patients with age-related vocal fold atrophy underwent injection of bFGF in their vocal folds. Vocal outcomes and stroboscopic examinations were evaluated 1, 3, and 6 months after the injection. The outcome measures included the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10), GRBAS (grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, strain) scale, maximum phonation time (MPT), the amplitude perturbation quotient (APQ), and the pitch perturbation quotient (PPQ).
  
  
  
  The VHI-10 was significantly improved 6 months after bFGF injection. The GRBAS scale, MPT, APQ, and PPQ were also improved. Stroboscopic examinations showed significant improvement of glottic closure and better mucosal wave.
  
  
  
  This is the first study to evaluate the regenerative effects of bFGF injection for the treatment of age-related vocal fold atrophy using the VHI-10. Injection of bFGF significantly improved VHI-10 scores and glottal insufficiency for at least 6 months.
  
  
  
  4. Laryngoscope, 126:1844-1848, 2016.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Kokura Memorial Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.|Department of Otolaryngology, Japanese Red Cross Wakayama Medical Center, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Kokura Memorial Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.|Department of Otolaryngology, Japanese Red Cross Wakayama Medical Center, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Akiyoshi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yasumoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Japanese Red Cross Wakayama Medical Center, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Japanese Red Cross Wakayama Medical Center, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takebayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Japanese Red Cross Wakayama Medical Center, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miura
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012038:Regeneration; D049489:Stroboscopy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
keywords: Basic fibroblast growth factor; Voice Handicap Index-10; aging; vocal fold atrophy