“Relationship Between Tamoxifen And The Absorption Of Subfascial Autologous Fat Grafts”

Introduction: In the lipofilling procedures used in breast reconstruction, there is an unpredictability in the rate of reabsorption of the grafted fat. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of Tamoxifen, a medication commonly prescribed for patients with breast cancer, as a possible alternative to reduce the rate of autologous fat graft resorption. Materials and methods: The fatty cushion of the inguinal region of 20 female adult Wistar rats was removed and then autografted, using a standard volume of 0.2 mL in the subfascial plane of the dorsal region. The subject animals were randomized into two groups, control and study. The study group animals were administed 20 mg/kg/day of Tamoxifen citrate over a period of 21 days, via gavage. At the end of the experiment, the animals were euthanized and the grafts underwent morphological and histopathological analysis, with emphasis on the predominant inflammatory response pattern and collagen maturation. Results: The rats undergoing treatment with Tamoxifen (study group) presented higher values in relation to the weight and the volume of fat grafts when compared to the initial values and to the control group. Histological analysis using Hematoxylin-Eosin staining showed that resolution of the inflammatory process was faster in the control group. Analysis using the Picrosirius method demonstrated higher percentages of immature collagen vs. mature collagen. Conclusion: The use of the drug Tamoxifen reduced the rates of resorption and fibrosis of the injected fat, resulting in a better integration of the autologous fat graft. Financial Disclosure Statement: Dr. Alfredo Silva, Mr. Felipe Haupenthal, Mr. André D. Morais, Dr. Adriana Sayuri, Dr. Ana Paula, Dr. Manoel Cavalcanti and Dr. Renato Freitas have nothing to disclose. No funding was received for this article. Ethical conduct of experimental studies with animals: All procedures performed involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institucional and national research committee or comparable ethical standards. Presented at: Congresso Paulista de Cirurgia 2016 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Corresponding author: Adriana Sayuri Kurogi Ascenço, Plastic Surgeon, Rua Solimões, 1175, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. e-mail address: sayurikurogi@hotmail.com ©2018American Society of Plastic Surgeons