Use of topical ketanserin in the treatment of skin ulcers: a double-blind study

Abstract

The use of a 2% ointment formulation of ketanserin, an S2-serotoninergic blocking agent, was investigated in a randomized double-blind clinical trial for its effect on the healing of wounds of patients with decubitus, venous, and ischemic skin ulcers. The result demonstrates a significant difference in favor of the ketanserin-treated group (35 patients) versus the placebo-treated group (37 patients) on the basis of two factors: formation of granulation tissue and epithelialization. In addition, a significant difference of 150% in the initial velocity of wound closure was observed in favor of the patients treated with ketanserin. This effect was persistent during the entire study period.