[Is the use of factor XIII for delayed wound healing in patients with head-neck tumors of value?]

Factor XIII is known to play an important role in wound healing. In patients with head and neck carcinomas there is an accumulation of risk factors for factor XIII deficiency such as chronic liver disease, extensive tissue lesions, and high intraoperative blood loss.

Serum levels of factor XIII in 22 patients who had undergone tumor surgery for head and neck carcinoma were measured preoperatively and daily up to 1 week following surgery. Factor XIII was measured with the Berichrome assay as part of our routine laboratory studies. The results were correlated with preoperative pseudocholinesterase (PChe). Factor XIII was substituted for 3 days in 8 patients with persistent wound healing problems that did not improve after two weeks of conservative treatment.

We found that PChe levels are a predictor for the development of factor XIII levels during this period. In patients (n = 14) with normal PChe, factor XIII levels reached 86% of the preoperative values 1 week after operation (group 1). In patients (n = 8) with low PChe, the levels reached only 65% (group 2). The rate of wound healing problems was higher in group 2 (6/8) than in group 1 (2/14). In 6 patients treated with factor XIII, the wounds healed within 3 to 7 days. In two cases revision operation was necessary.

We conclude that the therapy with factor XIII may be successful in patients with wound healing problems. Further studies will be necessary to find out whether prophylactic substitution of factor XIII in patients with low preoperative pseudocholinesterase levels is useful.