Two methods of investigating Dupuytren’s have been used: Demographic – family studies, associations with medications, activities, other diseases; and Biological – tissue analysis. The big biologic breakthrough came in 1972 when Gabbiani and others published two articles back to back findings on the biology of myofibroblasts:
http://www.dupuytrenfoundation.org/DupPDFs/1972_Gabbiani_719.pdf
and the role of myofibroblasts in Dupuytren’s Disease:
http://www.dupuytrenfoundation.org/DupPDFs/1972_Gabbiani_1115.pdf
We need more breakthroughs like this to develop biologic treatments for Dupuytren’s.