Growth factor impact on wound healing

Sixty thousand to 118,000 lower extremity amputations are performed each year in the United States. The combination of peripheral vascular disease and diabetes mellitus accounts for most cases, with diabetic patients representing 45% to 70% of all nontraumatic, lower extremity amputations. The 3-year survival rate after amputation is only 50%. As podiatric physicians, we are directly involved in limb preservation. Progress has occurred in both the diagnosis and treatment of lower extremity, chronic, nonhealing ulcers. An aggressive, comprehensive amputation intervention program is critical to those patients with refractory wounds to prevent the emotional, functional, and economic costs of limb loss. Recent developments in recombinant growth factors are making it possible to decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with defective angiogenesis, fibroblastic proliferation, collagen remodeling, and epithelial regeneration. Widespread use of growth factors will first occur in topical applications. Absorbable sutures, as well as impregnated bandages, are a likely method of delivering the growth factors to the wound site. Biotechnology companies are developing a stable formulation for bFGF topical application. Clinical trials have begun at various teaching hospitals across the United States for treatment of venous stasis ulcers. U.S. and European firms are collaborating to conduct the clinical studies required to obtain regulatory approvals leading to the sale of topical recombinant bFGF. Although U.S. approval is pending, European use of EFG in the healing of corneal incisions began several years ago. In the future, use of recombinant EGF topically with burn patients may permit earlier reharvesting of healed donor sites as well as coverage of larger graft areas. As some growth factors affect specific processes of healing and cell types, it may be necessary to combine growth factors for complex wounds. PDGF application in combination with other growth factors to incisional wounds may decrease postoperative complications with wound dehiscence while mediating inflammation and repair. In vivo experimental findings suggest that combinations of PDGF and insulin applied topically to wounds may increase the rate of wound repair in diabetics. It is also possible that even the normal healing process may be accelerated, thereby shortening postsurgical convalescence. Approval for internal administration of growth factors will require additional research and thorough clinical trials. The ability of TGF-beta to promote collagen formation may also relate to a metabolic condition such as osteoporosis, in which inadequate formation of collagen or other components of the bone matrix may contribute to pathogenesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)