Estrogens Levels and Receptors Status and Skin Tears

Background: Skin tears (ST) or "laceration injuries" or "flap wounds" are injuries that are often found in residents of residential care facilities (RCFs). STs were first defined by Payne and Martin in 1993 as traumatic wounds, located mainly in the upper limbs, caused by "shearing, friction or mechanisms combined with the consequent separation of layers of skin. Skin Tears can cause psychological problems for the patient and represent an economic problem with important repercussions on both the patient and the community. The etiology suggests that the physiological changes of the skin related to old age, together with comorbidity, are among the main risk factors for their onset.

The precise data on the phenomenon are not many, but it is estimated that STs are much more frequent than the same pressure ulcers, observing prevalence rates in RCFs around 40% Therefore, there are several risk factors hypothesized so far. Much evidence has correlated, in various physiological or pathological conditions, the role of estrogens with the functions and aging of the skin.

Objectives: The project will develop on the analysis of populations of residents from RCFs belonging to the national territory. Two populations of residents cared in the RCF will be recruited. A group of subjects suffering from skin tears (group A) and a control group of subjects without skin tears (group B). The inclusion of patients in both groups will take place through a simple randomization procedure. Group A patients will be staged according to the STAR classification for skin tears. For each group a peripheral venous blood sample will be taken (to measure the levels of estrone and estradiol) and a skin biopsy will be performed in order to measure estrogen receptors (ERs) expression. A data collection sheet with angraphic and anamnestic data will be developed to correlate the demographic and comorbidity data with the clinical conditions of the patients and with the laboratory findings from the sampling.

Expected results: The primary endpoint will be the correlation between serum estrogen levels, receptor expression and the presence of skin tears. The secondary endopoint will be Correlation between receptor structure and clinical staging of skin tears.

Future prospectives: We believe that our study may open new frontiers in the prevention and in the management of these skin lesions.

BACKGROUND Skin tears were firstly defined by Payne RL and Martin ML, and thereafter by more recent studies, as traumatic wounds occurring principally on the upper limbs, as a result of friction alone or shearing and friction forces, which separate the epidermis from the dermis (partial thickness wounds) or which separate both the epidermis and the dermis from underlying structures (full thickness wounds). Skin tears are reported to be a common wound especially on fragile exposed skin, which can be often encountered among older adult, disabled populations and neonates. Skin tears can be found on all areas of the body and are particularly common on the extremities. Skin tears may be also very common in public hospital (PH) inpatients and residents of residential care facilities (RCF) with prevalence up to 41% in these settings.

Skin Tears can cause psychological problems for the patient and represent an economic problem with important effects on both the patient and the community.

The risk factors hitherto hypothesized are many and include: advanced age, spasticity or rigidity, enticement, cognitive decline, long-term drug therapies, inadequate nutritional intake, etc but none of them, individually and independently, was found to be strongly correlated onset of skin tears, in such a way as to be able to effectively associate it with their onset.

Many evidences have correlated, in various physiological or pathological conditions, the role of estrogens with functions and skin aging.

The serum level of estrogens, and in particular estrone and estradiol, and the peripheral expression, in the tissues, of the related estrogenic receptors, estrogen α receptors, estrogen β receptors (ER- α, ER-β) and G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER) may be related to skin tears.

AIM The aim of the project is to study the correlation between serum estrogen levels and the expression of the related receptors, with the development of skin tears.

METHODOLOGY The project will develop on the analysis of populations of residents coming from ACF belonging to the national territory between a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 30. Each RCF will have to provide a number of subjects between 10 and 40.

The total patient sample will therefore be between a minimum of 100 and a maximum of 1200 subjects.

Therefore, two populations of guests assisted in the RCF will be recruited. A group of subjects affected by skin tears (group A) and a control group of subjects without skin tears (group B).

Patients will be included in both groups via a simple randomization procedure. The informed consent of the patient is required. A group of peripheral venous blood will be made to both groups to measure the levels of estrone and estradiol and a skin biopsy on the intact skin area near the lesion in group A and on a thin layer of healthy skin (Shave Biopsy) in the area of the arm in the control group (group B).

EXPECTED RESULTS Primary Endpoint The primary endpoint will be the correlation between serum estrogen levels, receptor expression and skin tears.

Secondary Endpoint. Correlation between receptorial structure and clinical staging of skin tears.

Eligibility Criteria:
Group A

Inclusion Criteria:

* Subjects of aged care facilities with skin tears

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients who do not give consent;
* Inability of blood sampling and / or skin biopsy

Group B

Inclusion Criteria:

* Subjects of aged care facilities without skin tears

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients who do not give consent;
* Inability of blood sampling and / or skin biopsy