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Updated: May 13, 2026
07:45
Severe Burn Injury in a Swine Model for Clinical Dressing Assessment
Published on: November 6, 2018
Burns, hypertrophic scar and galactorrhea
Hamid Karimi1, Samad Nourizad, Mahnoush Momeni
1Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences,Tehran, Iran. samad.noorizad@yahoo.com
Journal of Injury & Violence Research
|March 5, 2013
Summary
Severe burns can lead to hypertrophic scars and hormonal changes. This case study links high prolactin levels in burn patients to refractory hypertrophic scar development.
Area of Science:
- Burn injury management
- Endocrinology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Hypertrophic scarring is a common complication following severe burns.
- Hormonal imbalances, including hyperprolactinemia, can occur post-burn injury.
- The relationship between hypertrophic scars and hyperprolactinemia remains under-investigated.
Observation:
- An 18-year-old female burn patient developed hypertrophic scars and symptoms of hyperprolactinemia (galactorrhea, disturbed menstruation) 3-4 months post-discharge.
- Investigations confirmed hyperprolactinemia without other identifiable causes.
- Scar treatment and management of itching were initiated.
Findings:
- The patient's prolactin levels decreased after seven months but remained elevated.
- A correlation was observed between refractory hypertrophic scar development and elevated prolactin levels.
- This suggests a potential link between hormonal disturbances and scar severity in burn survivors.
Implications:
- Hyperprolactinemia may play a role in the pathogenesis of refractory hypertrophic scars in burn patients.
- Further research is warranted to explore the endocrine-hypertrophic scar relationship in burn care.
- This finding could inform novel therapeutic strategies for managing severe burn scars.
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