ABSTRACT
Background: Keloids and hypertrophic scars (HScs) are poorly understood cicatricial lesions without a gold-standard treatment. Recent experiments demonstrated that cytokines imbalance has an action in scar pathogenesis, mainly due to transforming growth factor (TGF) β#1 overexpression. Tamoxifen, an antioestrogenic drug, can inhibit TGF-β1 release and consequently fibroblastic proliferation. This indicates a possible role of Tamoxifen as a therapeutic option in keloids and HScs. Method: Eighteen patients were selected for the evaluation of tamoxifen citrate 0.1% for six months. During that evolution, photographic registration, dimensional evaluation and hystopathologic analisis of the lesions were accomplished and questionnaires about aspects of the lesion were applied to patients. Results: There was a significant reduction of the lesion height (p < 0.0001), width (p = 0.009) and length (p = 0.009). Texture criteria, height and itch were the ones that obtained the largest variations among the periods before and after treatment. Histological changes suggested remodelling action of the collagen in those scars. Conclusions: Tamoxifen citrate presented positive results in most of the analyzed criteria, minima side effects and low cost, constituting a safe and comfortable treatment option, mainly in HScs. There will be necessary more research with larger sampling for greater conclusions.
Keywords: Keloid. Cicatrix, hypertrophic. Tamoxifen.