Stem cells and burns: review and therapeutic implications.
Despite significant advances in burn resuscitation and wound care over the past 30 years, morbidity and mortality from thermal injury remain high. Limited donor skin in severely burned patients hinders effective wound excision and closure, leading to infectious complications and prolonged hospitalizations. Even with large-volume fluid resuscitation, the systemic inflammatory response syndrome compromises end-organ perfusion in burn patients, with resultant multiorgan failure. Stem cells, which enhance wound healing and counteract systemic inflammation, now offer potential therapies for these challenges. Through a review of the literature, this article seeks to illustrate applications of stem cell therapy to burn care and to highlight promising areas of research.
Butler
Kathryn L
KL
Sumner Redstone Burn Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.
Goverman
Jeremy
J
Ma
Harry
H
Fischman
Alan
A
Yu
Yong-Ming
YM
Bilodeau
Maryelizabeth
M
Rad
Ali M
AM
Bonab
Ali A
AA
Tompkins
Ronald G
RG
Fagan
Shawn P
SP
D002056:Burns / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology