Clinical Research, From The Blood On The Treatment Of Psoriasis Vulgaris

1.Aim:1.1 The present study was designated to investigate the effects of using Chinese herbs to treat psoriasis, when prescribed according to the three main differentiated syndromes (TMDS): blood heat, blood dryness and blood stasis, to find the rules of treating psoriasis by solving disorders of blood system, and to offer evidence for setting up standard Traditional Chinese Medical(TCM) treatments for psoriasis based on syndrome differentiation.1.2 To investigate the correlation among the TMDS and the cytokines(IL-6 and TNF-α), that was to offer data to establish the psoriasis syndromes'physiopathology.1.3 To investigate the relationship among the TMDS and the thickness of psoriasis lesion, that was to set up objective index for psoriasis syndrome differentiation.2.Methods2.1 Clinical trial: This randomized, single-blind, controlled, 8-week study assessed the efficacy of standard Chinese herbs prescriptions, which were made according to studying the experiences of the elder and famous TCM doctors (treatment group), and control Chinese herbs prescriptions, which was prescribed by modern TCM doctors (control group), and both of them were determined according to TMDS, treating psoriasis. The scores of Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and every symptom were assessed at baseline and when finished. The side-effects were also evaluated both in the two groups. .2.2Experimental research:2.2.1 The levels of IL-6 and TNF-αexpressed in serum were determined by radio-immunity, for psoriasis patients this was done before and after treated by Chinese herbs, for healthy control volunteers this was done once.2.2.2 The thickness of the targeted psoriasis lesions(TTPL) and the thickness of"normal skin"around (TNS) were measured by high frequency ultrasound.3.Results3.1 Clinical trial: After the 8 weeks'treatment, the scores of PASI and every symptom in both the treatment group (n=46) and the control group (n=34) reduced obviously. No statistical significances were found either between the two groups, or among the TMDS. And few side-effects were found in both groups.3.2 Experimental research: 3.2.1 Totally 26 patients'serum were tested, including blood heat syndrome group (n=14), blood dryness syndrome group (n=7), and blood stasis syndrome group (n=5). The levels of IL-6 and TNF-αwere higher in patients than healthy volunteers. The amount of IL-6 dropped sharply after treatment, however none of such change had been found of TNF-α. Considering different syndromes, the levels of IL-6 had statistical reduction (P<0.01) after treatment in the group of blood heat and blood dryness, yet blood stasis group. There no statistical significances of the levels of IL-6 and TNF-αamong the TMDS, before and after the treatment.3.2.2 Totally 22 patients'TTPL were measured, including blood heat syndrome group (n=9), blood dryness syndrome group (n=4), and blood stasis syndrome group (n=9).The psoriasis lesions'epidermis and dermis were thicker than"normal skin". Both of epidermal and dermal TI reduced obviously after treatment. There no statistical significances of dermal TI among the TMDS before or after the treatment, or of epidermal TI after the treatment. Before the treatment there was statistical significance (P<0.05) of epidermal TI between the group of blood heat syndrome and blood dryness syndrome, and there no other found among the other groups.