Abstract

Aims: Erythema, dryness and itching of skin are of late complications of mustard gas exposure. No study has been performed on the role of matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) in these injuries. This study was carried out with the aim of comparing the amount of MMPs and their inhibitors (TIMPs) in the skin tissue samples of mustard gas exposed victims and normal people. Materials & Methods: This descriptive study was performed on 75 people who were selected by convenience sampling method in one of Tehran's hospitals in 2009. 25 mustard gas exposed victims who had chronic xerosis were compared to 25 similar patients without mustard exposure and 25 normal individuals and the MMPs and TIMPs levels was measured in the skin tissue samples of each group by Elisa method. Data was analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test by SPSS 16 software. Results: The average amount of MMPs 8&9 and TIMPs 1&2 in mustard gas exposed victims was significantly higher than normal individuals (p<0.05) and MMP-2 in mustard exposed victims was significantly lower than normal individuals (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the amount of MMP-1in mustard exposed victims compared to normal individuals (p>0.05). Conclusion: Based on the increase of MMPs 8 & 9 in the skin tissue sample of mustard gas exposed victims compared to normal population, changes in the amounts of MMPs and TIMPs may be highly responsible for the pathology of these injuries.