Therapeutic use of TP5 (thymopoietin 32-36) in sarcoidosis of the skin.

TP5, a synthetic pentapeptide corresponding to thymopoietin 32-36, was administered alone to eight adult volunteer patients with sarcoidosis. A dose of 50 mg of TP5 was given iv, three times a week for 6 weeks, to three patients with erythema nodosum (EN) and bilateral hilar adenopathy, and to one patient with sarcoids of the skin; and for 12 weeks, to the other four patients with skin sarcoids. Before treatment and every 3 weeks thereafter clinical features; routine laboratory tests; tests for cellular immunity, humoral immunity, and auto immunity; IgE levels; and polymorphonuclear functions were recorded. EN disappeared in 3 weeks; hilar adenopathy improved or disappeared more slowly. Improvement of skin sarcoids was noted (lesions flattened or were cured). No side effects were observed. No evident changes in routine tests, humoral and auto immunity, IgE levels, and functions of polymorphonuclear leukocytes were observed. Cutaneous anergy to skin multi-tests was observed in seven patients before treatment, and was corrected with TP5 in six cases. In patients with low levels of peripheral blood T cells and suppressor T cells (as determined using specific monoclonal antibodies), a progressive normalization was obtained with TP5. These data support the efficacy of TP5 in sarcoidosis, although the action of the drug may be only temporary, as spontaneous remission may have occurred in this open trial of only eight cases.