Topical or intravenous administration of tranexamic acid accelerates wound healing.

Abstract

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate the morphological and histological effects of tranexamic acid (TA) on wound healing in a rat wound model.

Materials and methods: A total of 24 adult male Wistar Albino rats were used in this study. All rats were simple randomly divided into three groups including eight rats in each group. A full-thickness skin defect was created on the back of the rats in all groups. Serum physiological (2 mL) was instilled saline drops after wound formation (control group). Wound was created and topical TA (0.12 to 0.15 mL [30 mg/kg]) was applied (local group). Intravenous TA (0.12 to 0.15 mL [30 mg/kg]) was applied intravenously before the wound was created (intravenous group). The wound diameters of the groups were photographed and measured on Days 0, 3, 7, 10, 14 and, at the end of Day 14, the rats were sacrificed and their histopathological results and wound diameters were compared.

Results: Fibroblast count values of the control group were found to be significantly lower than the local group (p=0.002), and no significant difference was observed between the local and intravenous groups (p>0.05). The collagen density (%) values of the control group were found to be significantly higher than the local and intravenous groups (p=0.016 and p=0.044). Wound diameter values of the control group on Day 10 day were found to be significantly higher than the local and intravenous groups (p=0.001). In addition, the wound diameter values of the control group on Day 14 were found to be significantly higher than the local and intravenous groups (p=0.001 and p=0.0001). The wound diameter changes of the control group on Days 0-10 were found to be significantly lower than the local and intravenous groups (p=0.001). In addition, the wound diameter changes of the control group on Days 0-14 were found to be lower than those of the local and intravenous groups (p=0.001 and p=0.0001).

Conclusion: The use of local or intravenous TA may have positive effects on the fibroblast count and wound contraction in a rat wound model.