Treatment of Skin Ulcers Nonassociated to Diabetes with Recombinant Human Epidermal Growth Factor

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic skin ulcers affect 1 % of the adult population. Recombinant human epidermal growth factor has been shown to be clinically safe and its administration suggests that it is useful also in certain conditions other than diabetic foot ulcer.

Objective: To describe a series of variables related to the administration of recombinant human epidermal growth factor in patients with nondiabetic skin ulcers.

Methods: A descriptive and retrospective study was carried out, based on the analysis of documents from the consultation room of Rafael Santiago Echezarreta Mulkay polyclinic, of Mayabeque province.

Results: A total of 42 patients with cutaneous ulcers of different etiology were included (arterial, n = 4; venous, n = 15; traumatic, n = 11), associated to infectious inflammatory processes of lymphatic vessels (n = 10) and neurotrophic (n = 2). Recombinant human epidermal growth factor was applied intralesionally to all of them. In all, by the end of three weeks of treatment, useful granulation tissue had been achieved. No adverse events related to product application were identified.

Conclusions: All lesions were reported as closed. The intralesional mode of administration of this product collaborates with the different strategies recommended to overcome the negative effects on wound healing caused by the presence of biofilm.