INFLUENCE OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR AND INTERFERON-GAMMA ON HEALING OF ESOPHAGEAL CORROSIVE BURNS IN THE RAT

A study was performed to attempt to modify the healing response to sev ere oesophageal corrosive burns to prevent complications. The study wa s performed on four groups each of 15 Wistar rats: a control group, an untreated group and groups given epidermal growth factor (EGF) alone or EGF for 5 days and interferon (IFN) gamma from the sixth to 20th da y. In the last three groups an oesophageal lesion was induced with 2.5 moll(-1) sodium hydroxide solution. The efficacy of treatment was ass essed on days 2, 5 and 20 by measurement of weight gain, oesophageal i nternal lumen, stenosis index (wall thickness:lumen diameter) and coll agen production. On day 5, collagen synthesis was significantly (P<0.0 5) higher in rats given EGF than in the untreated group. On day 20, no significant difference was seen in weight gain between the control ra ts and either treated group and stenoses were present in all untreated rats and in none of the treated group. The stenosis index on day 20 w as lower in the groups given EGF and EGF-LFN-gamma than in untreated r ats (P<0.05) and collagen production was significantly (P<0.05) lower in the group given EGF and IFN-gamma than in the other animals. The se quential use of EGF and LFN-gamma significantly reduced the frequency of residual stenosis.