OBJETIVE: There is increasing evidence that coagulation factor XIII is protective in models of wound healing . Our purpose is to observe the effects of coagulation factor XIII on the healing of skin wound of rats treated with corticosteroid. METHOD: Fourty Wistar rats, weighing 245±15g, were randomly divided into four groups. In group A (n=10) the rats received corticosteroid IM. In group B (n=10) corticosteroid and factor XIII were used IM. In group C ( n=10) the rats received only factor XIII and in group D (n=10) saline solution was used (control). The tensil strenght of the wound was measured by a computed tensiometer and the hystopatologic evolution of healing was quantitated by a digital system. RESULTS: The results indicated a significant difference (p<0.0001) of tensil strenght between group A ((523.6gf) and the control (D) group (1480.4gf). In group B the tensil strenght (868.8gf) was significantly greater than in group A (p<0.0001). The factor XIII didn't increase the tensil strenght in group C, when compared with control (p=0,067). The hystopatologic analysis indicated a similar tendency observed in tensil strenght. CONCLUSIONS: There was a strong correlation between factor XIII, tensil strenght and healing of sutured skin wounds of rats treated with corticosteroid. The fator XIII didn't change the wound healing in rats with no corticosteroid.
Factor XIII; Healing; Skin; Corticosteroid; Tensil strenght; Hystopatology
