Experimental Study of Ultra-Pulsed CO2 Fractional Laser Combined With Recombinant Human Epidermal Growth Factor Gel in the Treatment of Eyelid Keloid

Abstract

Objective: Keloid (KD) and hypertrophic scars are prevalent and result from excessive growth of dermal tissue after skin damage. This review focused on the clinical application of the ultra-pulsed CO2 fractional laser combined with recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rHEGF) gel in patients with eyelid KD. Methods: Patients (N = 98) with KD who underwent surgery were randomly divided into a study group (ultra-pulsed CO2 fractional laser combined with rHEGF gel therapy, N = 49) and a control group (ultra-pulsed CO2 fractional laser therapy, N = 49). Besides, 5 cases dropped out of the study, including 2 cases in the study group and 3 cases in the control group. Finally, 47 cases of the study group and 46 cases of the study group were included in the analysis. The clinical baseline data such as sex, age, body mass index, scar area, etiology, Vancouver Scar Scale score, Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale score, four-item itch questionnaire score, serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α level expression were recorded in the study group (N = 47) and the control group (N = 46). Results: There was no significant difference in gender, age, body mass index, scar area, etiology, Vancouver Scar Scale score, Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale score, 4-item itch questionnaire score, IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels between the patients treated with ultra-pulse CO2 fractional laser + rHEGF gel and those only treated with ultra-pulse CO2 fractional laser (p > 0.05). Vancouver Scar Scale scores, Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale scores, and four-item itch questionnaire scores of patients with eyelid KD decreased to a greater extent than those treated with ultra-pulsed CO2 fractional laser combined with rHEGF gel (p <0.01). Compared with ultra-pulsed CO2 fractional laser treatment, ultra-pulsed CO2 fractional laser combined with rHEGF gel was more efficacious in treating patients with eyelid KD, with a lower incidence of adverse effects and a 1-year recurrence rate. Conclusions: Ultra-pulsed CO2 fractional laser combined with rHEGF gel can significantly improve the scar status and scar itching in patients with eyelid KD, with an obvious therapeutic effect, a low incidence of adverse effects, a 1-year recurrence rate, and high safety, which is worthy of popularization and application.