Reliability of Fibronectin and P-selectin as Indicators of Vitality and Age of Wounds: An Immunohistochemical Study on Human Skin Wounds

Fibronectin and P-selectin are immunohistochemical markers of skin wounds vitality and age estimation. This study aimed to assess and compare between fibronectin and P-selectin as markers of vitality and dating of antemortem (AM) and postmortem (PM) human skin wounds. This study was carried out on 140 human cases that were classified into three main groups; Group I [90 cases received at the Emergency Department, Benha University Hospital, Egypt], was sub-classified according to the wound age: AM1 ( 12 hours; n =20) and Group III [10 normal control skin samples]. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining technique was performed for all full thickness skin biopsies. The current study confirmed that Pselectin and fibronectin were good markers of wound vitality and designed a scoring system based on the increased intensity of the IHC staining in relation to wound age.The current study concluded that P-selectin is more reliable and specific than fibronectin as a marker of wound age estimation and vitality.