https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8382-574X
![Sample our Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing & Allied Health journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5944/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Medicine-Dentistry-Nursing-Allied-Health.jpg"})
Abstract
Objective: To investigate potential linkages between pressure injury (PrI) recurrence following spinal cord injury (SCI) and muscle-based and circulatory biomarkers, specifically fatty metabolites and inflammatory cytokines.
Design: Observational study.
Setting: Tertiary Care Center.
Participants: 30 individuals with complete or incomplete SCI. Study participants either had never developed a PrI (Group I) or had a history of recurrent PrI (Group II).
Interventions: Not applicable.
Outcome Measures: Gluteal muscle histology, immunohistochemistry, muscle-based and circulatory fatty metabolites and inflammatory cytokines.
Results: Gluteal intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) was greater than 15% in most Group II (83%) individuals. Muscle tissue histology confirmed intramuscular structural differences. Fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) and fatty acid binding protein 3 (FABP3) were reliably detected in muscle and blood and significantly correlated with IMAT (P < 0.001). FABP4 was significantly higher in Group II muscle and blood (P < 0.05). FABP3 was significantly higher in Group I muscle (P < 0.05). Circulatory FABP3 levels were lower for Group I. Inflammatory biomarkers were more reliably detected in blood. Colony-Stimulating Factor-1 was slightly higher in Group II muscle. Circulatory interleukin-13 was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in Group I. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in Group I muscle and blood.
Conclusion: Identifying individuals with SCI at highest risk for recurrent PrI may impact patient management. IMAT content evaluation illustrates that muscle quality is a key biomarker. Low circulatory inflammatory biomarker expression potentially limits clinical significance for between group differences. Circulatory levels of FABP4 hold great potential as a recurrent PrI risk biomarker.