Efficacy Of Growth Factor Therapy Research Articles

Comparative efficacy of growth factor therapy in healing diabetes-related foot ulcers: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

This study examined the relative efficacy of growth factor therapies in healing diabetes-related foot ulcers (DFU). PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched for randomized controlled trials testing growth factor therapies for treating DFU. The primary outcome was complete wound closure. Results were reported as relative risk (RR)±95% credible intervals (CrI). The risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane's RoB-2 tool. A total of 31 RCTs involving 2174 participants were included. Only 13 of the trials (n=924) reported on the aetiology of the ulcers (85.4% neuropathic and 14.6% ischaemic). Epidermal growth factor (RR 3.83; 95% CrI 1.81, 9.10), plasma-rich protein (PRP) (RR 3.36; 95% CrI 1.66, 8.03) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) (RR 2.47; 95% CrI 1.23, 5.17) significantly improved the likelihood of complete ulcer healing compared to control. Sub-analyses suggested that PRP (3 trials - RR 9.69; 95% CrI 1.37, 103.37) and PDGF (6 trials - RR 2.22; 95% CrI 1.12, 5.19) significantly improved the likelihood of wound closure amongst trial mainly recruiting participants with neuropathic ulcers. Eleven trials had a low risk of bias, 9 had some concerns and 11 had a high risk of bias. Sub-analysis of trials with a low risk of bias suggested that none of the growth factors significantly improved ulcer healing compared with control. This network meta-analysis found low-quality evidence that Epidermal growth factor, PRP and PDGF therapy improved DFU healing likelihood compared with control. Larger well-designed trials are needed.

Biological repair of the degenerated intervertebral disc by the injection of growth factors

The homeostasis of intervertebral disc (IVD) tissues is accomplished through a complex and precise coordination of a variety of substances, including cytokines, growth factors, enzymes and enzyme inhibitors. Recent biological therapeutic strategies for disc degeneration have included attempts to up-regulate the production of key matrix proteins or to down-regulate the catabolic events induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines. Several approaches to deliver these therapeutic biologic agents have been proposed and tested in a preclinical setting. One of the most advanced biological therapeutic approaches to regenerate or repair a degenerated disc is the injection of a recombinant growth factor. Abundant evidence for the efficacy of growth factor injection therapy for the treatment of IVD degeneration can be found in preclinical animal studies. Recent data obtained from animal studies on changes in cytokine expression following growth factor injection illustrate the great potential for patients with chronic discogenic low back pain. The first clinical trial for growth factor injection has been initiated and the results of that study may prove the usefulness of growth factor injection for treating the symptoms of patients with degenerative disc diseases. The focus of this review article is the effects of an in vivo injection of growth factors on the biological repair of the degenerated intervertebral disc in animal models. The effects of growth factor injection on the symptoms of patients with low back pain, the therapeutic target of growth factor injection and the limitations of the efficacy of growth factor therapy are also reviewed. Further quantitative studies on the effect of growth factor injection on pain generation and the long term effects on the endplate and cell survival after an injection using large animals are needed. An international academic-industrial consortium addressing these aims, such as was achieved for osteoarthritis (The Osteoarthritis Initiative), may further the development of biological therapies for degenerative disc diseases.

Impediments to wound healing

Chronic wounds will often heal in a short period of time if factors that inhibit wound healing are identified and managed. Recombinant growth factor therapy may provide an added stimulus to healing in certain types of chronic wounds. However, there remains no substitute for a physiologic environment conducive to tissue repair and regeneration, without which the efficacy of growth factor therapy is questionable. Some of the most commonly encountered and clinically significant impediments to wound healing include wound hypoxia, infection, presence of debris and necrotic tissue, use of anti-inflammatory medications, a diet deficient in vitamins or minerals, or general nutritional deficiencies, tumors, environmental factors, and metabolic disorders, such as diabetes mellitus. Treatment of chronic wounds should be directed against the main etiologic factors responsible for the wound. Moreover, factors that may impede healing must be identified and, if possible, corrected, for healing to occur.