Chinese Expert Consensus for the Application of rh-aFGF for Chronic Refractory Wounds

Background and Objective: Chronic refractory wounds not only persist and delay healing, causing physical and mental suffering to patients and reducing their quality of life but also impose a heavy burden on their families and society. Recombinant human acidic fibroblast growth factor (rh-aFGF), approved in China for decades, is a growth factor with multiple biological effects which can promote the healing of various wounds. It is crucial to develop an rh-aFGF expert consensus for standardizing the clinical application of aFGF and enhancing its clinical value. Methods: The literature related to rh-aFGF, including clinical trials, experimental research, and reviews, was collected and selected from PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, CNKI, and the Wangfang database. The expert recommendations were formed by a combination of clinical research quality, use of the Delphi questionnaire, and consensus reached during meetings involving experts. Results: A total of 12 consensus recommendations for clinical application of rh-aFGF on chronic refractory wounds (CRWs) were successfully formulated, of which seven strong, four moderate, and one weak recommendations were suitable for various clinical sets. The recommendations include specifications for duration of rh-aFGF treatment, dosage, types of wounds, and its combination with other products and dressings. Conclusions: rh-aFGF has vital clinical value for healing chronic wounds. This consensus provides clinicians with a reference to guide the application not only of rh-aFGF but also of other growth factor drugs with similar mechanisms for CRWs.