title: Treatment of psoriatic nails with indigo naturalis oil extract: a non-controlled pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the treatment of nail psoriasis, standardized therapeutic regimens are currently lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of indigo naturalis oil extract in patients with nail psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with nail psoriasis applied indigo naturalis oil extract on affected nails twice daily for 24 weeks. Efficacy was evaluated using the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI) and modified target NAPSI for the single most severely affected nail.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight out of 32 patients completed the study. The mean NAPSI was 36.1 ± 14.7 at baseline and decreased to 14.9 ± 11.1 at week 24 while the mean modified target NAPSI was 11.7 ± 3.9 at baseline and decreased to 3.6 ± 3.2 at week 24.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Indigo naturalis oil extract appeared to improve nail psoriasis. Although preliminary, these results indicate that it could provide a novel therapeutic option for nail psoriasis, a disease notoriously difficult to treat.
authors: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 222 Mai Chin Road, Keelung, Taiwan. lin1266@adm.cgmh.org.tw
authors: Yin-Ku
authors: YK
authors: Lin
authors: Lai-Chu
authors: LC
authors: See
authors: Ya-Ching
authors: YC
authors: Chang
authors: Yu-Huei
authors: YH
authors: Huang
authors: Jiun-Liang
authors: JL
authors: Chen
authors: Teng-Cheng
authors: TC
authors: Tsou
authors: Yann-Lii
authors: YL
authors: Leu
authors: Yu-Ming
authors: YM
authors: Shen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007203:Indigo Carmine; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007211:Indoles; D009821:Oils; D007203:Indigo Carmine