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

Abstract

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.