Biomarkers for recurrent pressure injury risk in persons with spinal cord injury

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2020 · DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2019.1645406 · Published: January 1, 2020

Spinal Cord Injury Bioinformatics Dermatology

Simple Explanation

This study explores the link between biomarkers and the recurrence of pressure injuries in individuals with spinal cord injuries. It focuses on fatty metabolites and inflammatory cytokines found in muscle and blood. The study found that intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) and specific fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) were associated with a history of recurrent pressure injuries. Higher levels of FABP4 in muscle and blood were observed in individuals with recurrent pressure injuries. The research suggests that circulatory levels of FABP4 could serve as a potential biomarker for assessing the risk of recurrent pressure injuries in individuals with spinal cord injuries.

Study Duration

2–3 year period

Participants

30 individuals with complete or incomplete SCI

Evidence Level

Observational study

Key Findings

1
Gluteal intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) was greater than 15% in most Group II (83%) individuals, indicating a potential link between muscle quality and PrI recurrence.
2
FABP4 was significantly higher in both muscle and blood for persons in Group II, suggesting its potential as a biomarker for recurrent PrI risk.
3
Circulatory interleukin-13 was significantly higher in the blood of persons in Group I, while Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) was significantly increased in Group I muscle and blood.

Research Summary

This study investigated the potential of muscle-based and circulatory biomarkers, specifically fatty metabolites and inflammatory cytokines, to predict pressure injury (PrI) recurrence in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). The results indicate that intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) content and levels of fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs), particularly FABP4, are associated with PrI recurrence risk. Circulatory levels of FABP4 show promise as a potential biomarker. While inflammatory biomarkers showed some differences between groups, their low expression levels suggest limited clinical significance compared to fatty metabolites. The study highlights the importance of muscle quality as a key biomarker for PrI risk assessment.

Practical Implications

Personalized Risk Assessment

The findings support the development of a biomarker-driven model for assessing individual PrI recurrence risk in SCI patients, allowing for more personalized prevention strategies.

Targeted Interventions

Identifying high-risk individuals through biomarker analysis enables clinicians to implement targeted secondary prevention interventions to minimize PrI recurrence.

Advanced Diagnostic Tools

The study suggests the potential use of advanced imaging and blood testing to assess recurrent PrI risk based on changes in muscle quality and circulatory fatty metabolites.

Study Limitations

1
The study is observational
2
Sample collection was performed at baseline
3
Low circulatory inflammatory biomarker expression potentially limits clinical significance

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