Treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for enhancing wound healing

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are well-established medications for the treatment of mood disorders including major depression. These agents are also known to exhibit potent antiplatetet and endothelium protective effects effects. Additionally, SSRIs can exacerbate the development of inflammation, and modulate the interleukin and interferon production. All of the above suggest that SSRIs therapy could be considered as a potential strategy for the wound healing treatment. We summarized some body of the available data on the history of serotonin metabolism, mechanism of action of ketanserin, and hypothesize why SSRIs may be beneficial in the wound repair natural history. Different pathophysiological considerations are also reflected in this review. Finally, we suggest that the topical use of SSRIs may represent a promising avenue for future strategies affecting wound repair in high-risk patients, especially those with diabetes mellitus, venous insufficiency, obesity, and other vascular disorders. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.