Serum EGF and NGF levels of patients with brain injury and limb fracture

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression and significance of human epidermal growth factor (EGF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in patients with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: RT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to measure the serum EGF and NGF expression levels of patients with limb fracture and brain trauma injurry after 1 d, 3 d, 7 d, 14 d and the relationship between them was analyzed. The level was compared among the simple fracture group, traumatic brain injury group and the normal control group, with 40 cases in each group. RESULTS: The serum NGF levels were significantly different among three groups. Serum NGF, EGF mRNA and protein levels gradually decreased with the increasing injury time in the limb fracture combined with brain injury group, traumatic brain injury group, the simple fracture group and the health control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The serum of NGF, EGF levels significantly increased when limb fracture combined with brain injury, so EGF and NGF may be involved in the process of fracture healing.