Acceleration of wound healing by a live yeast cell derivative

J. Z. Kaplan

Acceleration of the normal rate of burn wound healing would serve to decrease the morbidity and possibly the mortality of burn victims. A live yeast cell derivative (LYCD) has previously been reported to stimulate wound epithelialization and this study was designed to evaluate that hypothesis. Twenty-six human skin graft donor sites in nine patients were compared in a double-blind, randomized, single-center inpatient study. Thin donor sites were used as a model for superficial wound healing. Statistically significant earlier angiogenesis and epithelialization occurred in donor sites treated with LYCD ointment as compared with donor sites in the same patients treated simultaneously with ointment base. Stinging pain was noted by seven patients, but in all cases the pain was mild and required no analgesia.