title: Combination of glucosamine and low-dose cyclosporine for atopic dermatitis treatment: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel clinical trial.
abstract: Our recent pilot study showed better outcomes using a combination of low-dose cyclosporine and glucosamine than cyclosporine alone in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). Here, a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-designed study was planned to compare the efficacy and safety of low-dose cyclosporine and glucosamine combination to low-dose cyclosporine alone for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe AD. AD patients with a Severity Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index ≥ 30 were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either cyclosporine 2 mg/kg and glucosamine 25 mg/kg (group A) or cyclosporine and placebo (group B) for 8 weeks. SCORAD indices, serum levels of chemokine ligand 17 and interleukin-31, eosinophil counts, and blood cyclosporine levels were examined before and after treatment. The SCORAD indices for group A (n = 19) were significantly reduced after the treatment and a significant correlation between the changes in the SCORAD indices and changes in the serum levels of chemokine ligand 17, but not interleukin-31, was detected. Glucosamine combined with cyclosporine did not increase adverse events and serum cyclosporine levels compared with cyclosporine alone. Therefore, combination of low-dose cyclosporine and glucosamine may be useful to allow the long-term use of cyclosporine in the treatment of patients with moderate to severe AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Dongguk University Graduate School of Medicine, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Won-Suk
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Nam Hee
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Kyung Ah
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: Ai-Young
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054414:Chemokine CCL17 / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C106230:CCL17 protein, human; D054414:Chemokine CCL17; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; C502187:IL31 protein, human; D007378:Interleukins; D016572:Cyclosporine; D005944:Glucosamine
keywords: CCL17; SCORAD; atopic dermatitis; combination; glucosamine; low-dose cyclosporine