Expression of basic fibroblast growth factor and transforming growth factor-Beta 1 in patients with fasciocutaneous and muscle flaps.

Abstract

Angiogenesis involves multiple sequential mechanisms stimulating the growth of host endothelium. It occurs in surgical flaps at the interface with the reconstructed wound bed. In this study, concentrations of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta ) were analyzed in sera and wound fluids of 30 patients who underwent surgical treatment with muscle (n = 15) and fasciocutaneous flaps (n = 15). At 12 hours after operation, bFGF levels in wound fluids of patients with muscle flaps were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than in patients with fasciocutaneous flaps. At 24 and 36 hours after surgical treatment, there was no significant difference between them. Each group showed a significant decrease in bFGF levels after 24 and 36 hours. In sera, bFGF was not detectable. The two different groups presented no remarkable difference in TGF-beta concentrations in wound fluids. A correlation between angiogenic factors in sera and wound fluids could not be observed. The results show that angiogenesis is initially more activated in the wound bed of muscle flaps. This might be of great consequence to the healing process and might explain the curative effect of muscle flaps on bradytrophic tissue.