Healing effect of Pilocarpine gel 4% on skin lesions of pemphigus vulgaris.
BACKGROUND
The high rate of morbidity and mortality resulting from long-term use of corticosteroids in pemphigus vulgaris (PV) warrants discovery of a new treatment strategy. Based on a new theory on the pathophysiology of PV, cholinomimetics can block the process of blister formation.


OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of Pilocarpine gel in the treatment of skin lesions of PV.


METHODS
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, three PV patients with a total of 64 skin lesions were treated by either Pilocarpine or placebo gel. After 15 days of treatment an epithelialization index of the two groups was compared.


RESULTS
The mean of the epithelialization index in skin lesions that received Pilocarpine was significantly higher than that of the placebo group (40.3 +/- 1.7 vs. 24.4 +/- 3.3, P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Pilocarpine gel effectively treats PV.
Iraji
Fariba
F
Department of Dermatology, AL-Zahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. iraji@med.mui.ac.ir
Yoosefi
AliReza
A
D018678:Cholinergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos
D018678:Cholinergic Agents; D005782:Gels; D010919:Placebos; D010862:Pilocarpine