[Use of the eye-derived growth factor in the treatment of ulcer of the cornea. A veterinary medicine study in the dog].

A growth factor purified from adult bovine retina and named Eye Derived Growth Factor (EDGF) has been shown to stimulate proliferation of target cells in vitro and in vivo, and to increase the rate of wound healing of experimentally induced corneal ulcers in rabbits. In the present report, dogs (mainly boxers) with chronic recurrent ulcers resistant to various treatments, including chloramphenicol and reputed wound healing drugs, were treated by morning and evening instillations of drops containing 10 stimulation units of EDGF in phosphate buffer saline. Stable healing of the ulcer was obtained in all cases after 12 days of treatment, and no sign of relapse was detected after three months. During the healing period, as well as during the period of increase in cellular proliferation, transitory inflammation accompanied by neovascularization was observed. EDGF represents a new drug for treatment of ulcer.