Benoxaprofen improves psoriasis. A double-blind study.

The pathophysiologic significance of increased levels of lipoxygenase compounds in psoriatic lesions was assessed in a double-blind randomized clinical study with the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, benoxaprofen. Forty patients with psoriasis vulgaris were treated with 600 mg of oral benoxaprofen daily or a placebo for a period of eight weeks. Benoxaprofen therapy provided excellent treatment results in about 75% of the cases. In the placebo group, only minimal improvement occurred. Most patients receiving benoxaprofen therapy reported side effects including photosensitivity, onycholysis, milia, diarrhea, and edema. In two cases, benoxaprofen was withdrawn before completion of the treatment course because of photosensitivity. Benoxaprofen may affect psoriatic epidermis either directly by the inhibition of epidermal 5-lipoxygenase or indirectly by the inhibition of the accumulation of phagocytes in psoriatic lesions. Despite serious side effects from benoxaprofen therapy, lipoxygenase-inhibiting agents deserve further study in the treatment of psoriasis.