Wound Fluid Extracellular Microvesicles: A Potential Innovative Biomarker for Wound Healing.

Background

Extracellular vesicles, or microvesicles, are a large family of membrane-bound fluid-filled sacs that cells release into the extracellular environment. Extracellular microvesicles (EMVs) are essential for cell-to-cell communications that promote wound healing. We hypothesize a correlation between the concentration of EMVs in wound fluid and the percentage of wound healing in treated chronic, nonhealing, wounds. A prospective, multicenter, randomized, single-blind clinical trial was conducted to evaluate EMV concentration in relation to wound healing percentages.

Methods

Wound fluid samples were obtained from 16 patients with stage IV trunk pressure ulcers. Patients were divided equally into two groups: (1) control group on negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) alone and (2) study group with NPWT plus porcine extracellular matrix dressing. NPWT was replaced two times a week, and porcine extracellular matrix applied once weekly for all subjects. An NPWT canister device, called a wound vacuum-assisted closure, containing wound fluid was collected from each patient every 4 weeks. EMVs were isolated and the concentration measured by nanoparticle tracking analysis.

Results

The study group's total healing percentage was around 89% after 12 weeks compared with the control group's percentage of about 52% (

Conclusions

There is a positive correlation between EMV concentration and wound healing percentages. Results propose that the EMVs in wound fluid could serve as a biomarker for healing.

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article.