TREATMENT OF ESOPHAGEAL CORROSIVE BURNS W ITH INTERFERON-GAMMA - COMPARISON WITH EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY IN THE RAT

Objectives. - Effects of sequential use of epidermal growth factor fol lowed by interferon gamma on healing response after severe oesophageal corrosive burns has been demonstrated. This sequential treatment impr oves the inflammatory response of the initial phase and prevents resid ual stenosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of interfe ron gamma alone in the same condition. Methods. - The study was perfor med in 5 groups (n = 15) of Wistar rats: control, placebo, epidermal g rowth factor alone, interferon gamma alone and epidermal growth factor for 5 days followed by interferon gamma from the 6th to 20th day. The last 4 groups had an oesophageal injury caused by a solution of 2.5 N NaOH. The efficacy of treatment was assessed on days 2, 5 and 20 on: weight gain, c-esophageal infernal lumen, stenosis index: wall thickne ss / lumen diameter, collagen production. Results. - Interferon gamma significantly reduced residual stenosis frequency while if did nor imp roves the initial healing process. A complete effect on the two healin g phases was only observed in animals having the sequential treatment. Conclusions. - These results could lead to clinical trial in man to e valuate efficacy of sequential treatment with epidermal growth factor- interferon gamma in oesophageal corrosive burns.