SYSTEMIC TREATMENT WITH RECOMBINANT HUMAN EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR ACCELERATES HEALING OF SCLEROTHERAPY-INDUCED ESOPHAGEAL ULCERS AND PREVENTS ESOPHAGEAL STRICTURE FORMATIONS IN PIGS
Co. Juhl et al., SYSTEMIC TREATMENT WITH RECOMBINANT HUMAN EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR ACCELERATES HEALING OF SCLEROTHERAPY-INDUCED ESOPHAGEAL ULCERS AND PREVENTS ESOPHAGEAL STRICTURE FORMATIONS IN PIGS, Digestive diseases and sciences, 39(12), 1994, pp. 2671-2678
Human epidermal growth factor (EGF), a small polypeptide (6 kDa) with
mitogenic properties, has been implicated in the protection of gastroi
ntestinal mucosal integrity. The efficacy of EGF in the prevention and
healing of sclerotherapy-induced esophageal lesions was investigated
in 24 minipigs with surgically induced portal hypertension. In additio
n, the effect of EGF on intragastric acidity and pharmacokinetics was
investigated as possible means to explain its protective mechanism of
action. The animals underwent three weekly sessions of sclerotherapy w
ith polidocanol 2% and were concomitantly and for an additional three
weeks treated with either placebo or EGF administered paravenously in
the esophagus and/or subcutaneously. The subcutaneous treatment with E
GF significantly (P < 0.05) reduced esophageal stricture and scar form
ations associated with sclerotherapy. Gastric pH values were significa
ntly (P < 0.01) elevated only in animals receiving subcutaneous inject
ions of EGF. Furthermore, the subcutaneous administration of EGF was a
ssociated with unexpected prolonged plasma concentration of the peptid
e. These results suggest a possible clinical value of EGF as an adjunc
tive treatment with the sclerotherapy.