Influence of arterial hypertension treated with losartan on skin healing in rats.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of Losartan in skin healing repair. METHODS: One hundred and eleven male Wistar rats were distributed into four groups, at random. Group I (n=31) underwent a laparotomy to induce hypertension by stenosis of the left renal artery, and 48 hours later it received Losartan (10 mg/Kg) daily. Group II (n=30) went through the same procedure and received isotonic saline solution. Group III (n=30) underwent a simulated laparotomy. Group IV (n=20) to confirm the induced hypertension method. Ketamine and Xylazin anesthesia was used in every painful/stressful procedure. After 15 days, skin healing repair was studied by a dorsal midline skin incision and second layer-skin incision in groups I, II and III, that was sutured in one layer with 4-0 nylon suture. Samples of the dorsal wall scar were taken 4, 7 and 14 days after the last procedure, and sent to strength and displacement analysis and histological preparation. RESULTS: By the 4th and 7th days of the analysis, group II scars showed to be less resistant than group III scars (p<0,05). The total amount of collagen was higher in group III on the three studied periods. The percentage occupied by total collagen in the wound area, on the 14th day, was lower in group I, due to its lower percentage of type I collagen CONCLUSION: Scars treated with Losartan were initially less resistant and had a lower collagen deposition.