HUMAN RECOMBINANT EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR IN EXPERIMENTAL CORNEAL WOUND-HEALING

Human recombinant epidermal growth factor (hEGF) was evaluated in various corneal wound healing models in the rabbit. Human EGF accelerated epithelial wound healing in corneal reepithelialization, anterior-keratectomy, and alkali-burn models at concentrations of 10-500-mu-g/ml given four times daily (qid). In the corneal reepithelialization model, 100-mu-g/ml of hEGF qid produced a 45% increase in the wound-healing rate compared with control (0.13 versus 0.09 mm/hr) with a similar response at 500-mu-g/ml qid. In the anterior-keratectomy model, 500-mu-g/ml of hEGF qid accelerated healing by 40% (0.07 versus 0.05 mm/hr), although the 100-mu-g/ml dose was not active in this model, and 1-mu-g/ml of hEGF actually slowed the healing rate. In the alkali-burn model, 10 and 100-mu-g/ml of hEGF qid for 32 days appeared to produce faster initial healing of the wound compared with control, although the wound recurred in both hEGF and control groups. These results suggest that hEGF may be helpful in some epithelial disorders in humans, although considerations of dose response and optimal dosing regimens must be addressed.