Healing effect of Pilocarpine gel 4% on skin lesions of pemphigus vulgaris.

BACKGROUND

The high rate of morbidity and mortality resulting from long-term use of corticosteroids in pemphigus vulgaris (PV) warrants discovery of a new treatment strategy. Based on a new theory on the pathophysiology of PV, cholinomimetics can block the process of blister formation.

AIMS: This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of Pilocarpine gel in the treatment of skin lesions of PV.

METHODS

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, three PV patients with a total of 64 skin lesions were treated by either Pilocarpine or placebo gel. After 15 days of treatment an epithelialization index of the two groups was compared.

RESULTS

The mean of the epithelialization index in skin lesions that received Pilocarpine was significantly higher than that of the placebo group (40.3 +/- 1.7 vs. 24.4 +/- 3.3, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Pilocarpine gel effectively treats PV.