Effects of Biosynthetic Human Epidermal Growth Factor on Wound Healing.
Abstract
Much of the mortality, morbidity, and cost of caring for patients with major injuries such as burns or extensive surgery is closely related to the length of time required for their injuries to heal. At present, the ability of physicians to accelerate healing of partial thickness injuries and incisions is limited and relies on preventing infections and providing proper nutritional support. We have investigated a new approach of using a locally applied biosynthetic peptide growth factor, epidermal growth factor (EGF). The results of experiments in animals demonstrate that EGF significantly increases the rate of epidermal regeneration in split-thickness incisions and second degree burns in pigs. Similar results were found in a double-blind clinical trial of paired donor sites in patients. Also, a single application of EGF significantly increases tensile strength of surgical incisions in rats when EGF is formulated in liposomes that prolong its residency time in incisions. Tympanic membrane (TM) also is a target tissue for EGF and healing of TM perforations is influenced by EGF treatment. These results demonstrate that local application of EGF enhances healing of many kinds of wounds. Keywords: Wound healing, Growth factors, Skin(Anatomy).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA194722
Entities
People
- Gregory S. Schultz
Organizations
- University of Louisville