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Pycnogenol® efficacy in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus patients
Author(s) -
Stefanescu M.,
Matache C.,
Onu A.,
Tanaseanu S.,
Dragomir C.,
Constantinescu I.,
Schönlau F.,
Rohdewald P.,
Szegli G.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.915
Subject(s) - erythrocyte sedimentation rate , medicine , placebo , reactive oxygen species , fibrinogen , immunology , gastroenterology , pharmacology , pathology , biology , biochemistry , alternative medicine
A pilot study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of Pycnogenol® treatment in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Eleven SLE patients were treated with first line medication according to disease activity and in addition, six of them received Pycnogenol® and five a placebo. The SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), serum anti‐dsDNA antibodies, fibrinogen, C‐reactive protein levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by neutrophils, spontaneous apoptosis and p56 lck specific activity in peripheral blood lymphocytes were evaluated. Pycnogenol® treatment determined a significant reduction of ROS production, apoptosis, p56 lck specific activity and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. In addition, the decrease of SLEDAI was significant in the Pycnogenol® treated group compared with the placebo group ( p = 0.018). The results obtained suggest that Pycnogenol® could be useful for second line therapy to reduce the inflammatory feature of SLE. Copyright © 2001 John WIley & Sons, Ltd.