Therapeutic effect of topical calcium gluconate for hydrofluoric acid burn--time limit for the start of the treatment.
BACKGROUND
There are few studies regarding the time-dependent effectiveness of topical calcium gluconate treatment for the experimental hydrofluoric acid (HF) burn.


METHODS
For producing a HF-burn, a drop of 46% or 23% HF solution was put on the back of rats for 3 minutes followed by washing with tap water. Calcium gluconate jelly or ointment was then applied to the burn area at various time intervals. The ointment was applied once a day thereafter.


RESULTS
The topical calcium gluconate treatment was much more effective if the application was started within 3 hours. On the other hand, if the application was started after 6 hours or more, there was no difference between the groups and the non-treatment groups.


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that practitioners should be ready to prepare quickly the calcium gluconate ointment to treat a HF burn, since the calcium gluconate ointment is not commercially available in Japan.
Yasuda
H
H
Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University Hospital, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
Honda
S
S
Yamamoto
O
O
Asahi
M
M
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D002125:Calcium Gluconate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006858:Hydrofluoric Acid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
D006858:Hydrofluoric Acid; D002125:Calcium Gluconate