• F X Margaret Shanthi, Kalpana Ernest, and Prema Dhanraj.
• Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India. drmaggi29@gmail.com
• Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2008 Jul 1;74(4):343-8.

BackgroundThe calcium channel blocker, verapamil stimulates procollagenase synthesis in keloids and hypertrophic scars.AimTo study the effect of verapamil in the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids and to evaluate the effect of verapamil on the rate of reduction of hypertrophic scars and keloids in comparison with triamcinolone.MethodsThe study was a randomized, single blind, parallel group study in which 54 patients were allocated to to receive either verapamil or triamcinolone. Drugs were administered intralesionally in both groups. Improvement of the scar was measured using modified Vancouver scale and by using a centimeter scale serially till the scar flattened.ResultsThere was a reduction in vascularity, pliability, height and width of the scar with both the drugs after 3 weeks of treatment. These changes were present at one year of follow-up after stopping treatment. Scar pigmentation was not changed desirably by either drug. Length of the scars was also not altered significantly by either drug. The rate of reduction in vascularity, pliability, height and width of the scar with triamcinolone was faster than with verapamil. Adverse drug reactions were more with triamcinolone than with verapamil.ConclusionIntralesional verapamil may be a suitable alternative to triamcinolone in the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids.

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