RANDOMIZED PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL OF USE OF TOPICAL RECOMBINANT BOVINE BASIC FIBROBLAST-GROWTH-FACTOR FOR 2ND-DEGREE BURNS

Background Wound healing is a dynamic process that could be accelerate d by growth factors. We investigated the effect of recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor (rbFGF) on burn healing in a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Methods We recruited 600 patients with supe rficial or deep second-degree burns. Patients received 150 AU/cm(2) da ily topical rbFGF (n=300) or placebo (n=300) plus vehicle. We assessed healing by photography, punch-biopsy, and clinical examination. Findi ngs All patients treated with rbFGF had faster granulation tissue form ation and epidermal regeneration than those in the placebo group. Supe rficial and deep second-degree burns treated with rbFGF healed in a me an of 9 9 (SD 2.5) days and 17.0 (4.6) days, respectively, compared wi th 12.4 (2.7) and 21.2 (4.9) days (p=0.0008 and p=0.0003, respectively ). No adverse effects were seen locally or systemically with rbFGF. In terpretation rbFGF effectively decreased healing time and improved hea ling quality. Clinical benefits would be shorter hospital slays and th e patient's skin quickly becoming available for harvesting and graftin g.