A double-blind vehicle-controlled study of R 68 151 in psoriasis: a topical 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor.
Recently the pharmacologic role of leukotrienes (LTs), especially that of LTB4, has been intensively investigated in psoriasis. In vitro, R 68 151 is a potent 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor and consequently reduces LTB4 formation. Therefore the role of an in vitro 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor and its clinical use in psoriasis were evaluated with topical R 68 151 in a double-blind vehicle-controlled study. Eighty-eight patients with localized psoriatic lesions were treated twice daily with R 68 151 2% ointment (n = 44) or vehicle ointment (n = 44) during 4 weeks. Most patients (n = 73) had psoriasis vulgaris (n = 37, R 68 151; n = 36, vehicle). In 27% of the R 68 151-treated patients with psoriasis vulgaris, the lesions disappeared or showed marked improvement, compared with 8% in the vehicle group (X2, p = 0.06). The scores in global evaluation, however, were significantly different between both treatment groups (p less than 0.05, Mann-Whitney U test). The improvement of the mean symptom score with R 68 151 was 46% for scaling and 34% for erythema at the end of the study compared with an improvement of 6% and a deterioration of 3%, respectively, in the control group (p less than 0.05, p less than 0.01; Mann-Whitney U test). The global evaluation in the total group of patients with psoriasis (all different subtypes) was consistent with the response rate in the group of patients with psoriasis vulgaris: 30% in the test group versus 11% in the control group (X2, p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Department of Dermatology, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium.
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Degreef
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Dockx
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De Doncker
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De Beule
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Cauwenbergh
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001091:Arachidonate Lipoxygenases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles; D016859:Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D010879:Piperazines; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D007093:Imidazoles; D016859:Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D010879:Piperazines; C064426:R 68151; D001091:Arachidonate Lipoxygenases; D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase