Does intraurethral erythropoietin administration effect wound healing after hypospadias correction? an experimental rat study.

Objectives: To analyze effects of intraurethral EPO application on urethral wound healing by defining hystopathologic changes in a rat model of hypospadias.

Methods: A hypospadias model was created in 30 rats and randomized into 3 groups of 10. For 14 days, the first group was administered 25 iu EPO instillation intraurethrally once a day, while group 2 was administered with 50 iu EPO in the same manner. The third group was assigned as control group. On the day 15, rats were sacrificed and penectomies were performed. One independent pathologist who is blinded to groups and treatments evaluated the penis samples.

Results: Histopathologic examinations yielded the mean fibrosis scores (± SD) as 1.9 ± 0.568, 1.1 ± 0.786 and 2.5 ± 0.535 in groups I, II and III, respectively. There was significant difference between the EPO groups and the control group (p = 0.04-I, p = 0.003-II). The mean inflammation scar scores (± SD) were determined as 1 ± 1.054, 2 ± 1.247, 2.63 ± 0.744 in groups I, II and III, respectively. There was a significant difference in terms of inflammation between control group and group I (p = 0.005). Mean congestion scores (± SD) were found 1.2 ± 0.789 in groups I-II and 0.75 ± 0.463 in group III (p = 0.310). Hyperemia was seen in 60% 70% and 37.5% in groups I, II and III, respectively (p = 0.387).

Conclusion: Intraurethral EPO therapy effected urethral wound healing in a good way. Thus it could be feasible to treat the patients with after hypospadias surgeries and to improve success rates.