title: Pycnogenol treatment of acute hemorrhoidal episodes.
abstract: We investigated the efficacy of orally and topically applied Pycnogenol for the management of acute hemorrhoidal attacks in a controlled, randomized study with 84 subjects. Within less than 48 h of onset of an acute attack, patients were enrolled and signs and symptoms were scored. This evaluation was repeated after seven days' treatment and again seven days following treatment cessation. The decrease in scores was significantly more pronounced in the Pycnogenol-treated groups than in the control group given placebo (p < 0.05), showing the efficacy of Pycnogenol for relieving signs and symptoms of acute external hemorrhoids. In a group of patients given topical (0.5%) Pycnogenol in addition to oral Pycnogenol the improvement in symptoms set in significantly faster and was more pronounced. The most prominent symptom, hemorrhoidal bleeding, was completely absent in all patients treated with Pycnogenol for seven days and also at the 14 days follow-up. In contrast, bleedings were still observed in the control group during the two weeks follow-up. This study indicates that Pycnogenol, both in oral and in topical form, is effective for controlling this common, disabling health problem. The application of Pycnogenol eases the management of acute hemorrhoidal attacks and help avoid bleedings.
authors.affiliation: Irvine2 Vascular Labs & Microcirculation, Physiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, G D'Annunzio University, General Surgery, Guardiagrele (Ch)-Ortona (Pe) Pescara, San Valentino Vascular Screening Project, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Belcaro
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cesarone
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Errichi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Renzo
authors.forename: Maria Giovanna
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Grossi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dugall
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Cornelli
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cacchio
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rohdewald
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006484:Hemorrhoids / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; C024070:pycnogenols