Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of total and types I and III collagens in patients with ventral hernias

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the amount of total and types I and III collagens of samples from the linea alba in patients with hernias (epigastric, umbilical, and incisional) on the anterior wall of the abdomen, comparing them to findings obtained from a cadaver control group without hernias.

Samples of the linea alba aponeurosis from 26 patients with hernias on the anterior abdominal wall and from 32 cadavers without hernias were analyzed and compared for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the total and the types I and III collagens. Sirius-red staining was used to evaluate the total collagen, and for types I and III collagens, immunohistochemistry was used with monoclonal antibody anticollagen types I and III, respectively.

The amount of total collagen was 18.05% smaller in patients with hernias than in cadavers (p<0.05). Type I collagen was 20.50% smaller in patients than in cadavers (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the amount of type III collagen between cases and controls (p=0.383).

The results of this study indicate a relationship between hernias of the anterior abdominal wall and smaller amounts of total and type I collagens.