title: Efficacy of the apitherapy in the treatment of recalcitrant localized plaque psoriasis and evaluation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) serum level: A double-blind randomized clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  No universal consensus about optimal modality for treating the recalcitrant localized plaque psoriasis (RLPP) is available.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the immunological and clinical therapeutic effect of using apitherapy in the treatment of RLPP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized 50 patients with RLPP received apitherapy (n = 25) and placebo (n = 25) every week. Both treatments were injected into lesions at weekly intervals for a maximum of 12 treatments. Following up was 6 months later. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) level was measured at pre-study and at 12th week.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant difference was found between the therapeutic responses of RLPP to the apitherapy and placebo groups (p<0.001). In the apitherapy group, complete response was achieved in 92% of patients. There was statistically significant decrease in TNF-α in the apitherapy group compared to the placebo group. No recurrence was observed in the apitherapy group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Apitherapy is effective and a safe treatment for recalcitrant localized plaque psoriasis, when other topical or physical therapies have failed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University , Ismailia , Egypt and.
authors.forename: Soha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eltaher
authors.forename: Ghada F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.forename: Soha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Younes
authors.forename: Atef
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elakhras
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056705:Apitherapy / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000628:therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
keywords: Apitherapy; PGA; TNF-α; bee venom; recalcitrant localized plaque psoriasis