Immunohistochemical Evidence of Nerve Growth Factor in Dupuytren's Diseased Palmar Fascia

Tissue levels of NGF are elevated in Dupuytren's disease. This tissue is competent to respond to NGF and manifests an abundance of myofibroblasts in areas of NGF expression. Nerve growth factor is most apparent in the proliferative (hyperplastic) stage of the disease. These data infer that NGF is linked to the pathologic process.