RECOMBINANT HUMAN EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR PREVENTS SCLEROTHERAPY-INDUCED ESOPHAGEAL ULCER AND STRICTURE FORMATIONS IN PIGS

Human epidermal growth factor (EGF), a naturally occurring protein, ha s been implicated in the protection of gastrointestinal mucosal integr ity. The efficacy of EGF in the prevention of sclerotherapy-induced es ophageal lesions was investigated in 18 minipigs with surgically induc ed portal hypertension. The animals underwent five weekly sessions of sclerotherapy with polidocanol 2% and were concomitantly treated with either placebo or EGF administered either paravenously or subcutaneous ly. EGF significantly (P < 0.05) reduced esophageal ulcerations, stric ture formations, and mucosal histological damage associated with scler otherapy. The drug was well-tolerated with no overt toxicity. These re sults suggest a potentially important clinical value of EGF as an adju nctive treatment with the sclerotherapy.