The present study investigated the influence of recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor as an adjuvant therapy on scar alleviation and inflammatory cytokines in patients with an atrophic acne scar.

It randomly assigned 120 patients with atrophic acne scars into a test group and a control group. Both groups of patients received CO2 lattice laser treatment. After the operation, the control group received erythromycin ointment, and the test group received recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor gel.

The study then compared the clinical efficacy, clinical indicators, scar alleviation, and inflammatory cytokine levels before and after treatment and counted the adverse reactions. 

It found-

• Higher total effective rate and lower total incidence of adverse reactions in the test group than in the control group.
• Short erythema duration after treatment, early scab formation, and early edema regression in the test group than the control group.
• After treatment, an increase in the proportion of grade 1 scars graded by Goodman and Baron′s acne scar grading system in the test group and control group and a decrease in the proportion of grade 4 scars.
• A higher proportion of grade 1 scars in the test group than that in the control group after the treatment
• A lower proportion of grade 4 scars in the test group than in the control group after treatment.
• A decline in the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) in both groups, and lower TNF-α and IL-1β levels in the test group than the control group after treatment.

This study shows that recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor gel as an adjuvant therapy of CO2 lattice laser, which can effectively soothe the atrophic acne scar, relieve local inflammatory reaction, and has a good curative effect and less adverse reactions.

DU HX, Hu YY. [Clinical Observation of Recombinant Bovine Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor as an Adjuvant Therapy for Patients with Atrophic Acne Scar]. Zhongguo Yi Xue Ke Xue Yuan Xue Bao. 2022 Apr;44(2):208-212. Chinese. doi: 10.3881/j.issn.1000-503X.13708. PMID: 35538754.