Effect of subcutaneous injection of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on healing of chronic refractory wounds

Objective: To assess the effect of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on healing of chronic wounds.Design: Prospective open study.Setting: 1 cancer hospital and 2 University hospitals, Pakistan.Subjects: 35 patients with chronic wounds (duration 3 months or longer) that had not responded to standard treatment. Patients with malignant ulcers were excluded.Intervention: GM-CSF 10 μg/cm2 was injected subcutaneously along the edges and base of the wound. The treatment was given only once and patients were followed weekly for a minimum of six weeks.Main outcome measures: Changes in size, shape, depth, edges and base of the wound, amount and quality of the granulation tissue, and type of discharge.Results: Six patients were excluded from the analysis, 4 who died early of underlying disease and were not evaluable, and 2 who were excluded when histological examination of the wound showed that it was malignant. Although various types of wounds were studied, most (n = 10, 34%) were postoperat...