title: Papaverine hydrochloride in the treatment of atopic dermatitis: a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial to reassess safety and efficacy.
abstract: In a double-blind crossover study, oral papaverine hydrochloride in doses of 150-300 mg t.i.d. was compared to placebo as an adjunctive treatment of atopic dermatitis. Twenty patients completed both 2-week phases of the crossover during which time the physician's weekly evaluation included an estimate of percentage skin involvement with disease, global evaluation and the grading of the erythema, scale and lichenification of a representative plaque. The patients' evaluation included their assessment of the degree of pruritus, and an estimate of the percentage of the day pruritus was present as well as a global evaluation of disease. Papaverine demonstrated no statistically significant advantage over placebo for any of the parameters measured and was noted to cause transient asymptomatic liver function test abnormalities in 3 of the study patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, New York University Medical Center, NY.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shupack
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stiller
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meola
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Orbuch
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010208:Papaverine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010208:Papaverine