Abstract: Objective: To study the distribution and expressions of inflammatory, growth factors, apoptosis factors in the late stage of pressure ulcer chronic wounds. Methods: Twenty patients were recruited from the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University during Oc-tomber 2013 to July 2015. Including twenty patients of stage Ⅲ,Ⅳ pressure ulcer, ten acute injury patients and six normal health persons. The histological changes of different wounds were observed by HE staining, the distribution of Caspase-3 protein in four groups was detected by immunohistochemistry technique. The expressions of mRNAs for interleukin (IL)-1β, interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2(KDR), fibroblast growth factors(bFGF) and fibrob-last growth factors receptor1 (FGFR1)were determined by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: Large numbers of inflammatory cells were found in the stage of Ⅲ, Ⅳpressure ulcer wound under HE staining. The levels of Caspase-3 were mainly localized in fibroblasts or endothelial cells. Compared with the other two groups, the expression of Caspase-3 in pressure ulcers groups was higher (P < 0.01). The expressions of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were higher than those of the acute group and normal group. The expressions of VEGF, KDR, bFGF and FGFR1 were lower than those of the control group respectively. Conclusion: Overproduction or prolonged expression of in-flammatory factor and apoptosis factor, the expression of VEGF and its receptor KDR and bFGF and its receptor FGFR1 were significantly de-creased in the stage Ⅲ, Ⅳ pressure ulcer wound. These characteristics can be used to comprehensively evaluate etiology and treatment of pressure ulcer chronic wounds.

Key words: inflammatory, growth factors, apoptosisfactors, pressure ulcers, chronic wounds