ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the level and the significance of amino-terminal propeptide of procollagen type Ⅲ(P Ⅲ NP)in the serum of hypertrophic scar patients at excessive stages.Methods The serum samples of 74 inpatients admmitted in Affiliated Fosham Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from August 2007 to August 2009 suffering from long-persisting post-burn hypertrophic scar at various stages were collected.Serum samples of 12 were normal persons were also collected and used as control group.Hypertrophic scar group were divided into 4 subgroups according to the phase of scar and the serum concentrations of P Ⅲ NP were detected using the sensitive RIA method.Results The level of PⅢ NP increases gradually during the process of immature hypertrophic scar to mature scar before it peaking in 4 to 6 months scar subgroup.The concentration of PⅢ NP degreased gradually with the maturation of hypertrophic scar.Conclusions The high concentration of PⅢNP can reflect the high level of the synthesis of type Ⅲ collagen in the tissue of post-burn hypertrophic scar.The level of P Ⅲ NP is synonymous with the ongoing process of hypertrophic scar.PⅢ NP may be a satisfactory marker in discerning the growth and development of post-burn hypertrophic scar.