Epidermal growth factor in the healing of corneal wounds, epidermal wounds and partial-thickness scalds. A controlled animal study.

The effects of the topical application and the intraperitoneal administration of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the healing of epidermal wounds, and of partial-thickness scalds in rats and of corneal wounds in rabbits were evaluated. The parameters measured were the daily percentage body weight change, time to complete healing of the wounds, the evaporative water loss from the wound surface and the rate of new formation of epithelial cell layers on the epidermal and corneal wounds. Wounded animals treated with 0.9% NaCl were used as controls. After removal of the corneal epithelium the local application of EGF stimulated the regeneration process appreciably. No significant healing advantage from the treatment with EGF was observed, however, in epidermal wounds and partial-thickness scalds. The result does not warrant any clinical evaluation.