Oral Echinacea purpurea extract in low-grade, steroid-dependent, autoimmune idiopathic uveitis: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of to test efficacy and safety of Echinacea purpurea (echinacea) extract in the control of low-grade uveitis.


METHODS
Fifty-one (51) patients with low-grade, steroid dependent, autoimmune uveitis were recruited; posterior uveitis was excluded. The start therapy was represented by topical desamethazone for anterior uveitis and oral prednisone, rapidly tapered, for anterior uveitis with inflammatory scores equal to +2 and in all cases of intermediate uveitis. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) decrease or improvement was defined as a reduction or increase of 2 or more letters seen from the initial BCVA; ETDRS chart was used. Thirty-two (32) patients (21 with anterior uveitis and 11 with intermediate uveitis) received Echinacea (150 mg twice/day) as add-on therapy, whereas 20 patients (10 with anterior uveitis and 9 with intermediate uveitis) were treated with the conventional steroid therapy alone.


RESULTS
Thirty-one (31) patients showed anterior uveitis and 20 intermediate uveitis. The follow-up duration was 9 months. At the last follow-up, 19/21 patients with anterior uveitis and 9/11 with intermediate uveitis treated with echinacea presented uveitis settled, with a steroid-off time of 209 and 146 days, respectively. BCVA was stable or improved in 19/21 of anterior uveitis and 9/11 of intermediate uveitis. No adverse reactions supposed to be resulting from commercial-grade echinacea were recorded. Patients who did not receive echinacea required a longer treatment period with steroids with a steroid-off time of 121 and 87 days.


CONCLUSIONS
Systemic echinacea appears safe and effective in the control of low-grade autoimmune idiopathic uveitis.
Neri
Pier Giorgio
PG
Department of Neurosciences - Ophthalmology Section, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Stagni
Edoardo
E
Filippello
Massimo
M
Camillieri
Giovanni
G
Giovannini
Alfonso
A
Leggio
Gian Marco
GM
Drago
Filippo
F
D000284:Administration, Oral; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D020900:Echinacea / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014605:Uveitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
D010936:Plant Extracts; D013256:Steroids