Improved survival rates of random flaps in rabbits with a monoclonal antibody that blocks leukocyte adherence.

ABSTRACT

To examine the role of neutrophil adhesiveness in the tissue injury involving the ischemic "at risk" area of random flaps, we used the monoclonal antibody 60.3, which binds selectively to the primary neutrophil adherence-mediating glycoprotein CD18 in a random cutaneous flap model. Control animals that had flaps elevated and replaced (n = 12) had a mean distal necrosis of 31.9 +/- 9.3 percent of the total flap surface area. Treatment with monoclonal antibody 60.3 (n = 12) reduced distal necrosis to 10.6 +/- 7.5 percent (p < 0.005). Inhibiting inosculation by interposing a thin silicone sheet decreased distal flap survival; however, the protective effect of monoclonal antibody 60.3 on improving flap survival was unchanged. Control isolated flaps (n = 13) had a mean distal necrosis of 49.0 +/- 15.5 percent compared with 22.2 +/- 5.6 percent for the antibody-treated (n = 8) isolated flaps (p < 0.05). We conclude that increased neutrophil adhesiveness plays an important role in the tissue injury involving the ischemic "at risk" area of random flaps and the transient, specific inhibition of leukocyte adherence by monoclonal antibody 60.3 improves the distal survival of random flaps in this model. Moreover, we conclude that "graft inosculation" contributes to "flap" survival in this model; however, conclusions regarding the effect of treatment are not altered by blocking inosculation.