Pressure ulcers: a role for thymosin beta4.
Pressure ulcers occur in up to 14% of acute hospitalizations. They cause pain, decreased quality of life, increased morbidity, and prolonged hospitalizations. Treatment includes pain control, nutritional support, relieving pressure, removing devitalized tissue, and by using dressings and medications, providing an environment in which healing can occur. Even with optimal treatment, pressure ulcers may take months to heal. Thymosin beta4 is being investigated as a treatment for pressure ulcers. Thymosin beta4 has wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties. It is thought to exert its therapeutic effect through promotion of keratinocyte and endothelial cell migration, increased collagen deposition, and stimulation of angiogenesis. A study in a rat full-thickness wound model showed that treatment with thymosin beta4 increased collagen deposition and angiogenesis and stimulated keratinocyte migration and reepithelialization. If thymosin beta4 decreases healing time, this would represent a significant advance in the treatment of pressure ulcers.
Francis Godschalk
Michael
M
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, McGuire VA Medical Center, 1201 Broad Rock Blvd, Richmond, VA 23249, USA. Michael.Godschalk@VA.gov
D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D013947:Thymosin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000099201:Thymosin beta(4)
D013947:Thymosin; D000099201:Thymosin beta(4)