Serum transforming growth factor beta-1 post hip fracture repair in elderly patients.
BACKGROUND
To determine the kinetics of serum transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) in aged hip fracture patients during a month post-op. and determine its relationship to complications and cognitive status.


METHODS
Forty-one elderly patients were prospectively followed. Serum TGF-β1 was obtained during the first 10h post-fracture (baseline) and pre-surgery, 48-60 h post-op., 7 and 30 days post-op.


RESULTS
Mean age was 81.8±7.7, range 68-97 years. A significant increase in serum TGF-β1 (from baseline) was observed on the seventh day post-op., lasting for at least 1 month (p = 0.004). Sixteen patients experienced post-op. complications. Serum TGF-β1 of patients with complications was significantly higher compared to patients without complications (p = 0.039). More complications were found in impaired mental status (IMS) patients (9/12) compared to cognitively normal patients (10/29), (p = 0.037). However, no differences were found in serum TGF-β1 between IMS and normal patients, nor was a correlation found between age and TGF-β1 production. No differences were found between genders.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a distinct increase in serum TGF-β1, a week post hip fracture repair, lasting for at least a month, which is significantly higher in patients with post-op. complications. TGF-β1 seems to be essential to the healing process post hip fracture repair; still its clinical applications have as yet to be determined.
Department of Geriatrics, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Petach Tikvah, Israel. beloy@clalit.org.il
Yichayaou
Y
Beloosesky
Avraham
A
Weiss
Avital
A
Hershkovitz
David
D
Hendel
Vivian
V
Barak
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood*; D014945:Wound Healing
D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1