[Influence of V.A.C.-therapy on cytokines and growth factors in traumatic wounds]

Clinical observations have shown an accelerated wound healing in wounds of patients treated by Vacuum Assisted Closure (V.A.C.)-therapy. The mechanisms of improved wound healing on cellular level have been hitherto less investigated. In this study the levels of proinflammatory interleukins (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10) and growth factors (VEGF, FGF-2) in serum and wound were monitored.

The study included 21 patients with traumatic wounds that could not be closed during the first surgical intervention. The soft tissue defects (n = 21) were closed temporarily by Epigard. During the first second-look operation after 2.0 +/- 0.2 days in an average, Epigard was used for another 2.5 +/- 0.4 days as temporary soft tissue coverage in 13 patients (group A). In the remaining 8 patients the wound conditioning was done by V.A.C.(R) for 2.4 +/- 0.3 days (group B). A total of 428 samples of serum and wound fluid samples were collected during the first and second look operation. Levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, VEGF and FGF were measured specific by ELISA.

In all interleukins and growth factors there were significant lower serum level concentrations compared with those in wound fluids. During the first temporary dressing change after wound coverage with Epigard the wound samples showed the following levels [Mean (SEM)]: IL-6 49 816 (19 889) pg/ml, IL-8 54 (16) ng/ml, IL-10 314 (44) pg/ml, VEGF 4 746 (766) pg/ml, FGF-2 494 (89) pg/ml. During the second dressing changes we monitored the following levels in group A: IL-6 7 218 (2 542) pg/ml, IL-8 69 (27) ng/ml, IL-10 261 (58) pg/ml, VEGF 3 551 (661) pg/ml, FGF-2 355 (67) pg/ml. In group B the samples of the wound fluid showed the following results: IL-6 16 966 (4 124) pg/ml [p = 0.02], IL-8 223 (91) ng/ml [p = 0.03], IL-10 233 (76) pg/ml [p = 0.38], VEGF 7 490 (1 565) pg/ml [p = 0.01], FGF-2 352 (43) pg/ml [p = 0.48].

The increased local release of IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF in wounds after V.A.C.-therapy may be involved in the accumulation of neutrophil granulocytes and angiogenesis, which seams to play a crucial role for the accelerated granulation tissue formation after V.A.C.-therapy compared to wounds treated by Epigard.