The Accelerated Epithelization of Recombinant Epidermal Growth Factor on Partial-thickness Skin Wounds

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Recent studies have already demonstrated experimentally that the topical application of epidermal growth factor (EGF) accelerates the healing of partial-thickness wounds. Although previous studies have proved the effect of recombinant human EGF (rhEGF), the clinical use of rhEGF in case of patients have generated some controversy in advantage. In this study, twelve patients had partial thickness wounds because of burn and skin graft donor site were treated with rhEGF and we investigated the clinical effect of rhEGF on partial thickness wounds of patients. METHODS: We evaluated two groups of patients had partial-thickness wounds. One group (n=5) is consisted of the patients have second degree burn wounds, and the other group (n=7) is consisted of the patients have donor site wounds after skin graft. Each wound was divided two area, one area was applied twice daily with rhEGF and the other area was treated without rhEGF. The extent of reepithelized area was recorded by percentage ratio. And the statistical analysis was conducted about the difference of the number of days between two area until total wound was reepithelized. RESULTS: In the group treated with rhEGF, the mean of time to healing was about 9.75 days, whereas, in the group without rhEGF, it was about 11.08 days. In the number of days until total wound was reepithelized, there were statistically significant difference between two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the topical application of rhEGF accelerated the healing of partial-thickness wound clinically.