A patient on long-term steroid therapy is found to have impaired wound healing. Steroids impair healing primarily by inhibiting which process?
- A Suppressing inflammation and reducing growth factor release, thereby inhibiting fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis ✓
- B Directly destroying fibroblasts through cytotoxicity
- C Inhibiting platelet aggregation, preventing clot formation
- D Causing anemia that reduces oxygen delivery to healing tissue
Correct answer: A. Suppressing inflammation and reducing growth factor release, thereby inhibiting fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis
Explanation
Glucocorticoids impair wound healing by suppressing the inflammatory phase (reducing macrophage and neutrophil function), which in turn decreases release of growth factors (PDGF, FGF, TGF-beta) necessary for fibroblast recruitment, proliferation, and collagen synthesis. They also inhibit angiogenesis. Steroids are not directly cytotoxic to fibroblasts at physiologic doses.
Reference: Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.