• Cemile Nurdan Oztürk, Erdem Tezel, and Ozben Yalçın.
• Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey. nurdanbiskin@yahoo.com
• Ulus Travma Acil Cer. 2011 Mar 1;17(2):97-102.

BackgroundLosartan, a drug with antiinflammatory properties, has been shown to prevent ischemic injury in various organs. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of losartan on ischemic skin flaps and on flap survival.MethodsA 3x9 cm dorsal flap was elevated in 24 Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats received the following treatment for seven days: Group I (n=8): 10 mg/kg losartan; Group II (n=8): 40 mg/kg losartan; and Group III (n=8): nonionized water. At the end of the seventh day, the viable flap areas were calculated, and histological analysis was conducted to count cells and capillaries in microscopic fields.ResultsMean flap survival was 61%, 56% and 60% in Groups I, II and III, respectively. Comparison of flap survival between groups did not yield any significant difference (p>0.05). Ischemic zones of the flaps in all groups demonstrated an increase in number of neutrophils, fibroblasts and capillaries (p<0.05), whereas no difference was seen in mast cells. The cell counts in the viable areas of the flaps showed a significant decrease in fibroblasts in the group treated with 40 mg/kg losartan (p<0.05). The number of neutrophils, mast cells and capillaries was not influenced by treatment.ConclusionLosartan does not improve skin flap survival but it has a significant antiproliferative effect on fibroblasts.

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