Losartan

A Novel Treatment for Acute Skeletal Muscle Injury

Abstract

Skeletal muscle injury is a common and debilitating orthopaedic condition. Unfortunately, current treatment protocols inadequately facilitate full muscular recovery. New research is investigating modalities that regulate postinjury muscle fibrosis or scar tissue, which in excess can increase muscle stiffness and risk of reinjury. Losartan, a well-known angiotensin II receptor blocker, reduces muscle fibrosis after acute muscle injury in animal models by indirectly inhibiting transforming growth factor-β1, a profibrotic growth factor released during muscle healing. Although promising results have been shown thus far, additional human clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings and provide guidance on treatment.