Baby Gets Artificial Skin Layer

First Newborn To Get Bio-Engineered Skin Graft

MIAMI, Posted 5:55 p.m. January 12, 1999 -- Eight-week-old Tori Cameron was born with a rare, painful and potentially deadly skin disease that causes severe blistering with the slightest touch.

Doctors at the University of Miami School of Medicine are trying to prolong her life with a new set of skin, patch by patch, reported CBS 2 News' Ann Martin.

At first sight, you can't tell there's anything wrong with Tori. But take a closer look, and you'll see her tiny body is covered by a disease called epidermolysis bullosa, said Martin.

The disease causes infections and raw spots, similar to second-degree burns, Martin said. Tori is believed to be the first newborn with the disease to be given bio-engineered skin called Apligraf.

So far, her tiny body is 40 percent covered with Apligraf, and it has blended so well doctors say they can't tell the new skin from Tori's baby skin. Apligraf is made with a baby's foreskin and bovin collagin.

"It contains living cells and extracellular material that, put together, make up skin," said Dr. William Eaglstein, chairman of dermatology for the University of Miami School of Medicine. "In addition to healing a given wound where the skin is put, the hope would be that the tissue-engineered skins would take over and graft and become part of the baby's skin."

Tori's mom, Lorraine Cameron, knows her daughter won't be cured but is keeping her spirits high.

"She's horrible right now, but she should get better," she said. "That's what gives me the hope to kind of get through a lot of it right now."

The Food and Drug Administration approved Apligraf last May. But the medical breakthrough comes at a price of nearly $1,000 per patch.

Erik Nelson, Internet Broadcasting Systems