Crosstalk among adipose tissue, vitamin D level, and biomechanical properties of hypertrophic burn scars.

PURPOSE: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate whether adipose tissue loss and reduced vitamin D levels following severe burn injury are associated with pathologic scar formation and biomechanical scar properties.

METHODS

A total of 492 male subjects with hypertrophic burn scars were enrolled from January 2014 to July 2018 and analyzed. Body fat content was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Values of melanin, erythema, and trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and the distensibility and elasticity of hypertrophic scars were examined using pigment- and TEWL-measuring devices and a suction skin elasticity meter.

RESULTS

Burn patients with higher fat percentage tended to have higher 25(OH) vitamin D levels (P < 0.001). As body fat percentage increased, hypertrophic scars showed higher mean value of Uf (distensibility, P < 0.001) and lower mean value of Uv/Ue (viscoelasticity or interstitial fluid shifting, P < 0.001). Burn patients with higher 25(OH) vitamin D levels tended to have higher mean values of Uf (P < 0.001) and Ua/Uf (gross elasticity, P = 0.013) and lower mean value of Uv/Ue (P = 0.008).

CONCLUSION

Adipose tissue loss and decreased 25(OH) vitamin D levels following burn injury were related to scar rigidity and slow interstitial fluid shifting in hypertrophic scars.