Artikel
Patterns of FGF-b expression in patients with normal and delayed healing processes after long bone fracture
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Veröffentlicht: | 28. September 2006 |
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Gliederung
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Research question:Animal experiments have shown that secondary healing processes after bone fracture with callus development are affected by different cytokines with high local FGF-b concentration. As shown in our previous studies, systematic measurement can reflect the local expression of such grwoth factors. The aim of this study was a comparison in the course of FGF-b concentration for delayed and regular healing processes after bone fracture in humans.
Method: Serum from 136 patients with diaphysis fractures of long bones without substantial comorbidity was taken prospectively from peripheral blood after 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks, as well as 6 and 12 months after fracture consolidation. Matched paires of 15 patients showing delayed healing processes and 15 patients healing regularly were combined according to specific criteria. Their FGF-b data from the serum were assessed with ELISA over the healing period and compared using the statistical methods of Friedman, Wilcoxon, and Mann-Whitney U Test.
Results: FGF-b concentration in the delayed healing group was significantly different from the control group. While there was a significant increase in FGF-b concentration for those patients with regular healing, the serum levels of patients displaying delayed healing showed no such increase (p=0.03). After the second week, concentration in the control group started dropping to reach its initial level in the fourth week.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates a correlation between healing process and FGF-b concentration detected in the serum. This growth factor shows a typical distribution pattern during the course of healing after bone fractions. If there is no significantly increased level of FGF-b concentration in the initial phase after the fracture, which concurrently, reflectes early fracture calluses development, the probability of delayed fracture healing is high. This might be a precondition for early therapeutic intervention.