A Study on the Epidermal Growth Factor in Diabetic Ulcer Management

Abstract

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES The wide reaching negative social impact of non-healing chronic diabetic ulcers is emphasised by the estimate that 70 million of the world population might be affected by diabetes by 2025 and these people will be physically and socially handicapped if they develop foot problems. A vital cog in the wheel of wound healing is Epidermal Growth Factor. Hence a novel approach for combating longstanding diabetic wounds is external application of growth factors. This study has been done with the view to evaluate the efficacy of Epidermal Growth Factor in accelerating the healing of diabetic foot ulcers and also to assess its tolerability. This study compares the Epidermal growth factor Versus the standard therapy of wound with antiseptic solution and moist saline dressing in healing of diabetic ulcer foot. METHODS Sixty cases of diabetic ulcers (Study group-30 and control group-30) were included in this study. Factors tabulated and analysed. RESULTS & OBSERVATIONS The overall rate of healing of ulcers in EGF group is 86.67% and in the control group is 66.67%. CONCLUSION The conclusion of this study is that recombinant Epidermal Growth Factor is effective in the healing of diabetic ulcers at a significantly higher rate.