Usefulness of bFGF spray in the treatment of perianal abscess and fistula-in-ano.

PURPOSE

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a newly identified recombinant agent that promotes wound healing through an augmented neovascularization. This study examined the effect of bFGF in the treatment of perianal abscesses.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Nine consecutive males with an average age of 5.1 months (1-9 months) who presented with perianal abscess in the past 2 years were treated with bFGF (Transfermin, Kaken Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). Two or three sprays of bFGF were applied to the perianal abscess two times a day.

RESULTS

All nine patients responded well to the bFGF treatment. Pus discharge and local swelling around the fistula subsided within a mean of 7.3 ± 1.9 days (1 SD) after the initiation of treatment. One case showed a mild relapse 7 months after treatment and the other developed a new lesion 1 month after treatment. However, these lesions also similarly disappeared after a second treatment with bFGF without a recurrence in the follow-up examinations at 11 and 10 months, respectively. The remaining seven cases have all done well without any recurrence at a mean follow-up period of 14.1 ± 3.2 months.

CONCLUSION

These results clearly indicate the usefulness of the bFGF spray as a new treatment strategy for the management of perianal abscesses.