title: Effectiveness of a treatment based on melatonin in five patients with systemic sclerosis.
abstract: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multisystem connective disorder in which endothelial damage leads to fibrotic reactions through platelet hyperaggregability and inappropriate release of platelet-derived growth factors. With other colleagues, I have previously reported that melatonin seems to have a direct favorable effect on endothelium (stopping of bleeding symptoms in thrombocytopenic patients). Furthermore, melatonin has been described as performing an antiaggregating activity, and ACTH and vitamin E have been described as increasing melatonin effects. This provided the rationale to treat 5 SSc patients with melatonin plus ACTH and vitamin E. Patients received the treatment for 1 month. The therapy was continued for 2 additional months in patients with stable or responding disease. After 3 months, the stable or responding patients continued the therapy for 2 months and longer. All patients had a partial response after 1 month. Continuing with the treatment, none of the 5 patients had disease progression (average follow-up time of 16.6 months; range, 7-44 months). Toxicity was lacking, with the only side effect being drowsiness. Our experience suggests that the combination of melatonin-ACTH-vitamin E may be safe and effective in patients with SSc.
authors.affiliation: ASL 11 (Local Health Department of National Health Service), Fermo, Italy. todmau@tin.it
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Todisco
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D045743:Scleroderma, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy*; D045745:Scleroderma, Limited / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014810:Vitamin E; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D008550:Melatonin