A pilot study evaluating protein abundance in pressure ulcer fluid from people with and without spinal cord injury

The biochemical profile of chronic pressure ulcers is different between SCI and non-SCI populations. These differences should be considered when selecting treatment options. Systemic blood serum properties may not represent the local wound environment.

To determine whether the biochemistry of chronic pressure ulcers differs between patients with and without chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) through measurement and comparison of the concentration of wound fluid inflammatory mediators, growth factors, cytokines, acute phase proteins, and proteases. Design: Survey. Setting: Tertiary spinal cord rehabilitation center and skilled nursing facilities. Participants: Twenty-nine subjects with SCI and nine subjects without SCI (>18 years) with at least one chronic pressure ulcer Stage II, III, or IV were enrolled. Outcome measures: Total protein and 22 target analyte concentrations including inflammatory mediators, growth factors, cytokines, acute phase proteins, and proteases were quantified in the wound fluid and blood serum samples. Blood samples were tested for complete blood count, albumin, hemoglobin A1c, total iron binding capacity, iron, percent (%) saturation, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

Wound fluid concentrations were significantly different between subjects with SCI and subjects without SCI for total protein concentration and nine analytes, MMP-9, S100A12, S100A8, S100A9, FGF2, IL-1b, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and TGF-b1. Subjects without SCI had higher values for all significantly different analytes measured in wound fluid except FGF2, TGF-b1, and wound fluid total protein. Subject-matched circulating levels of analytes and the standardized local concentration of the same proteins in the wound fluid were weakly or not correlated. Conclusions: The biochemical profile of chronic pressure ulcers is different between SCI and non-SCI populations. These differences should be considered when selecting treatment options. Systemic blood serum properties may not represent the local wound environment.