Preliminary study of efficacy of hyaluronic acid on caustic esophageal burns in an experimental rat model

• Published in: Journal of pediatric surgery 2013-04, Vol.48 (4), p.716-723
• Main Authors: Cevik, Muazez, Demir, Tuncer, Karadag, Cetin Ali, Ketani, Muzaffer Aydin, Celik, Hakim, Kaplan, Davut Sinan, Boleken, Mehmet Emin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Antioxidants - metabolism; Burns, Chemical - drug therapy; Burns, Chemical - surgery; Caustic esophageal burn; Caustics; Disease Models, Animal; Esophageal Stenosis - prevention & control; Esophagus - injuries; Esophagus - surgery; Hyaluronic acid; Hyaluronic Acid - pharmacology; Lipid Peroxides - blood; Oxidative Stress; Pediatrics; Random Allocation; Rat; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sodium hydroxide; Statistics, Nonparametric; Stricture; Sulfhydryl Compounds - blood; Surgery; Treatment; Weight Gain
• ISSN: 0022-3468; 1531-5037
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2012.08.015

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid on the prevention of esophageal damage and stricture formation after experimental caustic (alkaline) esophageal injury in rats. Materials and Methods Twenty-one Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three groups. A caustic esophageal burn was created following the Gehanno model: Group l ( n = 7) underwent operation, but no injury; Group 2 ( n = 7) was injured and left untreated; and Group 3 ( n = 7) was injured and treated with hyaluronic acid, first topically and then orally by gavage (2 × 0.3 mL; 12.5 mg/mL for 7 days). The caustic esophageal burn was created by instilling 25% NaOH into the distal esophagus. All rats were euthanized on day 22 for evaluation. The efficacy of hyaluronic acid treatment was assessed histopathologically and biochemically via blood determination of the total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), and sulfhydryl group (SH) and lipid hydroperoxidase (LOOH) levels. Statistical analyses were performed. Results Weight gain was significantly lower in Group 2 than in the other two groups ( P < 0.05). The mean stenosis index, histopathologic damage score, TAS, TOS, OSI, and SH and LOOH levels were higher in Group 2 than in the other two groups. The mean stenosis index, inflammation, TAS, SH and OSI in Group 2 were significantly different than those in the other two groups ( P < 0.05). Conclusion Hyaluronic acid treatment is effective in treating damage and preventing strictures after caustic esophageal burn in rats.