Pycnogenol efficacy in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

M Stefanescu, C Matache, A Onu, S Tanaseanu, C Dragomir, I Constantinescu, F Schönlau, P Rohdewald, G Szegli

Journal: Phytotherapy research : PTR 2002;15(8):698-704

PMID: 11746863

Abstract

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.

Address: Department of Immunology, Cantacuzino Institute, Splaiul Independentei 103, Bucharest, Romania.

DOI: 10.1002/ptr.915

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https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.915

MeSH Terms: Adjuvants, Immunologic, Adult, Aged, Apoptosis, Blood Sedimentation, C-Reactive Protein, DNA, Female, Fibrinogen, Flavonoids, Humans, Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic, Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck), Lymphocytes, Male, Middle Aged, Neutrophils, Pilot Projects, Plant Extracts, Reactive Oxygen Species, Severity of Illness Index