Published online before print August 12, 2009
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,1
* Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA; and
Center for Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
1. Correspondence: Center for Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration, University of Illinois at Chicago (MC 859), 801 S. Paulina, Room 401B, Chicago, IL 60612-7211, USA. E-mail: ldipiet{at}uic.edu
ABSTRACT
Ethanol consumption is linked to a higher incidence of traumatic wounds and increases the risk for morbidity and mortality following surgical or traumatic injury. One of the most profound effects of acute ethanol exposure on wound healing occurs during the inflammatory response, and altered cytokine production is a primary component. Acute ethanol exposure also impairs the proliferative response during healing, causing delays in epithelial coverage, collagen synthesis, and blood vessel regrowth. The accumulated data support the paradigm that acute ethanol intoxication prior to injury significantly diminishes a patients ability to heal efficiently.
Key Words: alcohol dehydrogenase extracellular matrix endothelial growth factor alcohol injury trauma