Ibuprofen modulates tissue perfusion in partial-thickness burns

Introduction. The anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant effects of ibuprofen and heparin may enhance skin perfusion in cutaneous scald burns. To test this hypothesis, skin perfusion and edema formation in scald burned rabbit ears were measured. Method. Eighteen rabbits (3.5–4.5 kg) received partial-thickness scald burns to one ear and then were given normal saline, n=6, 20 mg/kg ibuprofen, n=6, or 700 IU/kg heparin, n=6. Skin perfusion, blood flow and edema formation in the burned ear were measured with laser Doppler, ultrasound flowmeter and skin calipers, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using repeated measures ANOVA with post hoc Scheffeʹs test for comparison between groups. Results. Blood flow to the scald burned ear increased 10–15 times that of baseline with tissue perfusion increasing by 70% within 0.5 h compared to pre-burn. Ibuprofen maintained the elevated tissue perfusion for 5 h while the heparin and saline groups showed decreases to 95 and 35% of pre-burn values, respectively. The heparin and ibuprofen groups demonstrated significant increases in ear perfusion at 4 and 5 h postburn. Ibuprofen also showed a significant difference within the first hour postburn, p<0.01. Wet to dry weight ratios in burned ear tissue were greater in rabbits receiving saline or heparin compared to ibuprofen at 3.6±0.2 and 2.9±0.3 vs. 2.1±0.1, respectively (p<0.001). Conclusion. Ibuprofen increases tissue perfusion and reduces edema formation in scald burned rabbit ears.