title: Topical treatment of necrotising herpes zoster with betulin from birch bark.
abstract: Betulin, a pentacyclic triterpene, is the main constituent of the outer bark of birches (Betula alba). In recent years, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and differentiation-promoting effects of betulin have been described. A betulin-based emulsion without preservatives and detergent emulsifiers can be prepared from birch bark extract. We report the successful treatment with betulin emulsion of a severe necrotising herpes zoster in an immunosuppressed patient who had not responded to a conventional topical treatment. The betulin emulsion was directly applied to the wounds without causing any side effects. The presented case report demonstrates impressive skin tolerance and wound-healing properties of the betulin emulsion. These should be further evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Wound care center, Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Steffi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weckesser
authors.forename: Melanie N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Laszczyk
authors.forename: Marcel L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Christoph M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Schempp
authors.forename: Hauke
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schumann
mesh_terms: D029662:Betula; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014945:Wound Healing; D000094062:Betulinic Acid
chemical_list: D014315:Triterpenes; C002503:betulin; D000094062:Betulinic Acid