ANALYSIS OF THE IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF COLLAGEN TYPE-IIIAND TYPE-V FOR THE TIME-ESTIMATION OF HUMAN SKIN WOUNDS

Collagen type III and V were visualized immunohistochemically in 79 su rgically treated human skin wounds with a wound age between 8 h and 2. 5 months. Network-like structures positively staining for collagen typ e III and associated with fibroblastic cells in the wound area were fi rst detectable in a 2.5-day-old skin lesion and occurred regularly in wounds more than 5 days old. Collagen type V appeared first in the wou nd area after about 3 days, slightly later than collagen type III, and was detectable regularly in wounds with a survival time of 6 days or more. The immunohistochemical detection of collagen type III or type V thus indicates a wound age of at least 2-3 days. The lack of a positi ve reaction in a sufficient number of specimens indicates a wound age of less than 6 days. Even though both collagen types could also be det ected in older wounds (wound age 2.5 months), further information for the time-estimation of older skin wounds cannot be given due to the ob servation that the time period during which reparative processes can b e observed depends on the extent of the wound area.