Select growth factors, including epidermal growth factor and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor like growth factor, demonstrate some beneficial effects in experimental and clinical intestinal injury demonstrated in necrotizing enterocolitis.
Comparison of epidermal growth factor and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor for prevention of experimental necrotizing enterocolitis.
Continuing basic research and clinical studies are essential before epidermal growth factor can be introduced as an efficient therapeutic approach in the treatment of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis.
Collectively, the data strongly suggest a potential therapeutic role for the use of HB-EGF to treat intestinal ischemic diseases such as I/R and necrotizing enterocolitis.