An open trial of oral macrolide treatment for psoriasis vulgaris.
Seventeen patients were included in a clinical open trial of macrolides for treatment of psoriasis vulgaris. PASI scores, itch and ointment scores were used to evaluate their effectiveness. PASI scores dropped from 22.8 to 13.7; this was statistically significant. Itch reduced in 11 out of 13 patients, and the extent of itch reduced significantly by 54% on average. Ointment scores reduced from 44.9 to 34.4, which was also statistically significant. Macrolides are known not only as potent anti-biotics, but also as immunomodulatory agents. These data suggest that macrolides could be used as one of the adjunctive therapies of psoriasis vulgaris, and this study is a first step toward the future evaluation of macrolides in a double blind trial.
Komine
M
M
Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Branch Hospital, Japan.
Tamaki
K
K
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015575:Roxithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009824:Ointments; D015575:Roxithromycin; D004917:Erythromycin; D017291:Clarithromycin