Hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum in lumbar spinal canal stenosis is associated with increased bFGF expression.

Purpose: A prospective study was undertaken to investigate basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression in hypertrophic ligamentum flavum (LF) from patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSCS) and to determine whether there was a correlation of bFGF expression with LF thickness.

Methods: Twenty patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis were enrolled in this study. bFGF mRNA and protein expressions in LF were analyzed using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively.