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

BackgroundThe 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 MethodsTwenty-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.ResultsWeight 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).ConclusionHyaluronic acid treatment is effective in treating damage and preventing strictures after caustic esophageal burn in rats.