RECOMBINANT HUMAN GRANULOCYTE-MACROPHAGE COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR ASTREATMENT FOR CHRONIC LEG ULCERS

Objective. To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a single subcut aneous perilesional administration of 300 mu g of recombinant human gr anulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (rHGM-CSF) for the trea tment of chronic leg ulcers. Design. Prospective, descriptive evaluati on in an outpatient group. Setting. The Centro Medico Nacional 20 de N oviembre, ISSSTE, Mexico City. Patients. 10 patients with chronic leg ulcers. Measurements. Ulcer diameter and side effects. Results. After 4 weeks observation, 8 of the 10 ulcers had healed; the other two had a mean diameter decrease of 21%. The only side effect was found in a 5 8 year old female who complained of moderate perilesional pain two day s after having received treatment: it was successfully treated with pa racetamol. Conclusion. We believe that a single perilesional subcutane ous administration of rhGM-CSF is safe and effective for the treatment of chronic leg ulcers.