POSITIVE EFFECTS OF HYPERBARIC OXYGEN AND PLATELET DERIVED GROWTH FACTOR-BB ON ISCHEMIC ULCERS

Abstract

Chronic, nonhealing wounds are important causes of morbidity in surgical patients. Since Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) has been demonstrated to elevate oxygen tension in both normal and hypoxic tissues, it has been used extensively in the treatment of chronic, nonhealing ischemic wounds. It was determined that Platelet Derived Growth Factor -BB (PDGF-BB) stimulate the synthesis of fibronectin, glycosaminoglycan and hyaluranic acid during wound healing process. In this study we examined the effects of the HBO and PDGF-BB's combined application in wound healing of ischemic wounds. Ischemic dermal ulcers were made in the ears of 32 New Zealand white rabbits (3-3.5kg). The rabbits were divided into four groups, each including eight rabbits. In Group A, PDGF-BB was applied to the ischemic wounds once every two days. The second group (Group B) was exposed to 100 minutes oxygen at 2 ATA pressure everyday in the oxygen cage for 8 days. In group C both PDGF-BB and HBO were applied to the wounds. In this study we determined either HBO or PDGF-BB when applied alone on ischemic wounds produce healing to a degree. We determined that the combined usage of HBO and PDGF-BB on ischemic wounds gave better results statistically in terms of collagenisation, fibroblast, vascularisation and epithelial tissue. The usage of HBO application with PDGF-BB especially with the entrance of tissue growth factors into clinical usage is promising in the healing of ischemic and chronic wounds.