Protective effects of ibuprofen against caustic esophageal burn injury in rats

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of ibuprofen on the healing of esophagus and the prevention of stricture development after esophageal caustic injuries in rats. Materials and methods Rats were divided into three groups as: group 1(sham), group 2(esophageal burn injury), group 3(injury + ibuprofen). In groups 2 and 3, a standard esophageal burn injury was created by applying 10% NaOH solution to distal esophagus of about 3 cm. To rats in the sham group, isotonic solution was given instead of NaOH. Ibuprofen (90 mg/kg/day) was given via oral route to group 3 rats. Normal saline as placebo was given via the same route to rats in groups 1 and 2. 28 days later, all the live rats were killed. The distal esophageal segments of all rats were removed and divided into two equal parts for biochemical and histopathologic examination. In the tissue samples, biochemically hydroxyproline and histopathologically collagen content and stenosis indices were evaluated for efficacy of treatment. Results The hydroxyproline level (μg/mg wet tissue) in the groups was 1.54 ± 0.08, 4.82 ± 0.60, and 3.28 ± 0.27, respectively. The hydroxyproline level increased significantly in group 2 compared with group 1 ( P