title: Clinical assessment of patients with recalcitrant psoriasis in a randomized, observer-blind, vehicle-controlled trial using indigo naturalis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatment with indigo naturalis in patients with recalcitrant plaque-type psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, observer-blind, vehicle-controlled, intrapatient comparison study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ambulatory department of a hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two outpatients with chronic plaque psoriasis were enrolled in the study from May 1, 2004, to April 30, 2005.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients applied either indigo naturalis ointment or vehicle ointment topically to each of 2 bilaterally symmetrical psoriatic plaque lesions for 12 weeks (depending on the date of enrollment in the study).
  
  
  METHODS
  The outcomes were assessed using the following criteria: the sum of erythema, scaling, and induration scores and the clearing percentage of the target plaque lesion assessed by 2 blinded observers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant reductions in the sum of scaling, erythema, and induration scores (P < .001) (mean score, 6.3 after indigo naturalis treatment vs 12.8 in control subjects) and plaque area percentage (P < .001) (mean percentage, 38.5% after indigo naturalis treatment vs 90% in controls) were achieved with topical application of indigo naturalis ointment. Approximately 31 of 42 patients (74%) experienced clearance or near clearance of their psoriasis in the indigo ointment-treated lesion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical indigo naturalis ointment was a novel, safe, and effective therapy for plaque-type psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yin-Ku
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chee-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ya-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Wen-Rou
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Shu-Chen
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jong-Hwei Su
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Pang
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007203:Indigo Carmine; D029883:Indigofera; D007211:Indoles; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011336:Probability; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013624:Taiwan; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007211:Indoles; D009824:Ointments; D007203:Indigo Carmine