Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in acute injuries of the spinal cord.
Injuries to the spinal cord may be associated with increased healing of fractures. This can be of benefit, but excessive bone growth can also cause considerable adverse effects. We evaluated two groups of patients with fractures of the spinal column, those with neurological compromise (n=10) and those without (n=15), and also a control group with an isolated fracture of a long bone (n=12). The level of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), was measured at five time points after injury (days 1, 5, 10, 42 and 84). The peak level of 142.79 ng/ml was found at day 84 in the neurology group (p<0.001 vs other time points). The other groups peaked at day 42 and had a decrease at day 84 after injury (p<or=0.001). Our findings suggest that TGF-beta may have a role in the increased bone turnover and attendant complications seen in patients with acute injuries to the spinal cord.
School of Medicine and Medical Science, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Eccles Street, Dublin 7, Republic of Ireland.
J F
JF
Quinlan
R W G
RW
Watson
G
G
Kelly
P M
PM
Kelly
J M
JM
O'Byrne
J M
JM
Fitzpatrick
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood*
D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta