title: Chronic wound pathogenesis and current treatment strategies: a unifying hypothesis.
abstract: Most chronic wounds can be classified into three major types: pressure ulcers, venous ulcers, and diabetic ulcers. The authors propose a unifying hypothesis of chronic wound pathogenesis based on four main causative factors: local tissue hypoxia, bacterial colonization of the wound, repetitive ischemia-reperfusion injury, and an altered cellular and systemic stress response in the aged patient. Traditional strategies for the treatment of chronic wounds have shown limited success. The authors explore potential treatment regimens specifically aimed at each individual determinant of chronic wound pathogenesis. Furthermore, they explore a combined therapeutic approach that collectively targets all the components of chronic wound pathology. These innovative ideas and therapies could be of substantial interest for clinicians and researchers, while further offering significant benefit to patients with chronic wounds.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Ill 60611, USA. tmustoe@nmh.org
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Mustoe
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Shaughnessy
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kloeters
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000150:complications*; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000503:physiopathology; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000150:complications; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000503:physiopathology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy