Molecular mechanisms and treatment strategies for Dupuytren’s disease

David B O’Gorman^1,2,3,4, Linda Vi^1,2,5, Bing Siang Gan^1,2,3,5,6
1Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory, ²The Hand and Upper Limb Centre, St. Joseph’s Health Care London, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, ³Departments of Surgery, ⁴Biochemistry, ⁵Physiology and Pharmacology, ⁶Medical Biophysics, The University of Western Ontario, London, OT, Canada

Abstract: Dupuytren’s disease (DD) is a common disease of the hand and is characterized by thickening of the palmar fascia and formation of tight collagenous disease cords. At present, the disease is incurable and the molecular pathophysiology of DD is unknown. Surgery remains the most commonly used treatment for DD, but this requires extensive postoperative therapy and is associated with high rates of recurrence. Over the past decades, more indepth exploration of the molecular basis of DD has raised the hopes of developing new treatment modalities. This paper reviews the clinical presentation and molecular pathophysiology of this disease, as well as current and emerging treatment. It also explores the implications of new findings in the laboratory for future treatment.

Keywords: Dupuytren’s contracture, Dupuytren’s disease, fibrosis