Topical calcipotriol for preventive treatment of hypertrophic scars: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of topical application of calcipotriol to healing wounds in preventing or reducing hypertrophic scar formation and to investigate the biochemical properties of the epidermis associated with hypertrophic scar formation.


METHODS
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial using the reduction mammoplasty wound-healing model.


METHODS
University Medical Center Groningen. Patients Thirty women who underwent bilateral reduction mammoplasty. Interventions For 3 months, scar segments were treated with either topical calcipotriol or placebo.


METHODS
Three weeks, 3 months, and 12 months postoperatively, the scars were evaluated and punch biopsy samples were collected for immunohistochemical analysis.


RESULTS
No significant difference in the prevalence of hypertrophic scars was observed between the placebo- and calcipotriol-treated scars. Only scars with activated keratinocytes 3 weeks postoperatively became hypertrophic (P = .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Topical application of calcipotriol during the first 3 months of wound healing does not affect the incidence of hypertrophic scar formation. We observed a strong association between keratinocyte activation and hypertrophic scar formation. Trial Registration trialregister.nl Identifier: NTR1486.
van der Veer
Willem M
WM
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Jacobs
Xander E
XE
Waardenburg
Ingmar E
IE
Ulrich
Magda M
MM
Niessen
Frank B
FB
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
C055085:calcipotriene; D002117:Calcitriol