Clinical efficacy of basic fibroblast growth factor on pressure ulcers: Case-control pairing study using a new evaluation method

A basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) case and a control case whose total scores of Pressure Ulcer Healing Process-Ohura (PUHP-Ohura) and risk factors for pressure ulcers, and level of care for pressure ulcers were equivalent were paired. Twenty-three such eligible pairs were enrolled in this study. Both cases in each pair were treated under conditions in which extrinsic factors such as the use of a pressure-relief mattress and the frequency of postural change were equivalent. The efficacy of bFGF was assessed by analyzing the data obtained over time as the scores of PUHP-Ohura for nine observation items using the SAS MIXED procedure. Treatment of pressure ulcers with bFGF accelerated wound healing over time more significantly than the control in six observation items (exudate volume, ulcer depth, granulation formation, wound edge, epithelialization, total score of the PUHP-Ohura). These data suggest that it may be possible to evaluate drugs for the treatment of pressure ulcers using the PUHP-Ohura wound-assessment tool.