The effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on wound healing was studied in healing-impaired animal models such as metabolic diseases (obesity and diabetes), infection, steroid treatment, malnutrition and chronic liver failure. bFGF treatment resulted in an acceleration of wound healing in an almost same dose range regardless of impairment causes or animal species used. The beneficial effects of bFGF on wound healing were suggested to be due to its potent angiogenesis and granulation tissue formation activities, leading to a rapid reepitherialization of the wound. In addition, the findings that bFGF promoted healing in infection wound and burn wound of diabetic mice, and burn wound of dietary-restricted rats indicated its ability to accelerate wound contraction, another important process of wound closure.