DOES THE ASSOCIATION OF TACROLIMUS AND MYCOPHENOLATE MOFETIL CHANGE THE HEALING OF THE ABDOMINAL WALL? STUDY IN RATS SUBMITTED TO ISCHEMIA AND KIDNEY REPERFUSION

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil are immunosuppressive agents widely used on the postoperative period of the transplants. Aim: To evaluate the influence of the association of them on the abdominal wall healing in rats. Methods: Thirty-six Wistar rats were randomly assigned in three groups of 12. On the early postoperative period, four of the control group and three of the experimental groups died. The three groups were nominated as follow: control group (GC, n=8); group I (GI, n=11, standard operation, mycophenolate mofetil and tacrolimus); group II (GII, n=10, standard operation, mycophenolate mofetil and tacrolimus). The standard operation consisted of right total nephrectomy and 20 min ischemia of the left kidney followed by reperfusion. Both NaCl 0.9% and the immunosuppressive agents were administered starting on the first postoperative day and continuing daily until the day of death on the 14th day. On the day of their deaths, two strips of the anterior abdominal wall were collected and submitted to breaking strength measurement and histological examination. Results: There were no significant differences in wound infection rates (p=0,175), in the breaking strength measurement and in the histological examination among the three groups. Conclusion: The combination of the immunosuppressive agents used in the study associated with renal ischemia and reperfusion does not interfere in the abdominal wall healing of rats.