Seven patients affected by nail psoriasis were treated with topical calcipotriol for a 3-month period. All patients had a prominent nail bed and hyponychial involvement, with subungual hyperkeratosis ...and onycholysis; pitting was present in three cases. After 3 months of therapy five of the patients showed an improvement of their nail psoriasis, especially with regard to subungual hyperkeratosis and onycholysis. These five patients prolonged calcipotriol cream use for a further 3 months, and complete clearing of nail lesions was observed in one of the five. Calcipotriol is a structural analogue of vitamin D, that is effective in the local treatment of psoriasis vulgaris through its influence on keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation. These preliminary results indicate that topical calcipotriol may be a promising treatment for nail psoriasis, especially on account of its high tolerability and the possibility of prolonged use without side-effects.
Cyclosporin A (CyA) has recently been introduced successfully for the treatment of the pustular forms of psoriasis. We treated a 57-year-old female cook who had been suffering from Hallopeau's ...acrodermatitis continue for 12 years. She came under our care for a marked worsening of the clinical picture of the third finger of the right hand. We treated her with CyA at an initial dose of 4 mg/kg per day. After two months of therapy the finger had completely healed. No side-effects were noted, confirming the efficacy and safety of cyclosporin A in the treatment of acrodermatitis continue at low dose.
INTRODUCTION Numerous trials using interferon in the treatment of HPV infections have been reported. IFN-β has antiviral, antiproliferative and immunopotentiating activities. The aim of this ...randomized open study was to evaluate the effectiveness of intramuscular IFN-β in reducing relapses versus both electrocautery and combined treatment, i.e. IFN-β plus electrocautery, in a group of male patients affected by genital warts.
PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 84 male patients (mean age 32 years) with recent genital warts were randomly enrolled into three groups: 33 patients were treated with electrocautery; 25 patients received only intramuscular IFN-β (3 000 000 IU daily for 10 days); 26 patients were treated with both electrocautery and intramuscular IFN-β (3 000 000 IU daily for 10 days). The patients were checked monthly. Residual disease was treated with electrocautery until complete clearance.
RESULTS After 1 month 42% of the patients treated with electrocautery, 29% of those treated with IFN-β and 39% of those treated with combined therapy had been cured. Residual disease rates gradually decreased in all groups during the follow-up, but more quickly in the patients who had received IFN-β therapy. No side-effects after IFN-β treatment were observed.
CONCLUSION IFN-β monotherapy is not the first choice treatment for genital warts, though it may be useful in patients with relapsing condylomata acuminata resistant to other therapy.
Psoriasis and endothelins Trevisan, G; Stinco, G; Giansante, C ...
Acta dermato-venereologica. Supplementum,
1994, Letnik:
186
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Psoriasis is characterized by an abnormal proliferation and increased turnover of keratinocytes, the presence of acute and chronic inflammatory cells and microangiopathic changes. Endothelins are a ...family of peptides which have been investigated especially for their effects on the cardiovascular system. Recent studies have demonstrated their involvement also in human skin.
We evaluated the Endothelin-1 and 2 plasma levels in psoriatic patients, as endothelin-1 can be produced in vitro by keratinocytes and can stimulate the proliferation of fibroblasts as well as modify the skin microcirculation dynamics.
We studied 30 patients: 10 affected with psoriasis (PASI from 5 to 10), 10 affected with cardiovascular diseases and 10 healthy controls. The Endothelin-1 and 2 plasma levels were evaluated by radio-immunoassay procedure.
A significant increase in Endothelin-1 and 2 plasma levels was observed in the psoriatic patients, in comparison with the controls.
Our data seem to suggest a possible relationship between psoriasis and increased plasma level of endothelin-1 and 2, though the possible role played in the pathogenesis of psoriasis needs further studies.
