Cultured pressure ulcer fibroblasts show replicative senescence with elevated production of plasmin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and transforming growth factor-beta1.

In a 16-patient study, cultured fibroblast populations from normal skin were able to replicate an average of 14.8 +/- 2.2 times before becoming senescent, while fibroblast populations from the ulcer bed reached the end of their replicative life span after 7.

Significance of cell cycle for wound stratification in clinical trials: analysis of a pressure ulcer clinical trial utilizing cyclin D/cdk4.

During the past 5 years, progress in the treatment of pressure ulcers appears to have reached a plateau. Several factors in the design of recent clinical studies may have contributed to this situation. These factors include the criteria chosen for patient selection, small sample size, and lack of a concisely defined final clinical outcome.