OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of combined herbal medicine therapy on the expression of psoriasis-associated antigen (Pso p27) in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

METHODSFifteen psoriasis vulgaris patients were included in the study and they were all treated with combined herbal medicine therapy for 12 weeks. Both psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score and plaque index (PI) score were evaluated before and after treatment, while skin biopsies from selected lesions and uninvolved skin near the lesions were performed. Expression of Pso p27 in the target skin and surrounding uninjured skins were analysed using immunofluorescence method.

RESULTSThe PASI score and PI score decreased after the combined herbal medicine therapy in both acute and silent stages (P < 0.01), so did the positive cells of Pso p27 and the intensity of fluorescein stain (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined herbal medicine therapy is effective in treating psoriasis vulgaris in both acute and silent stages, which may be resulted from its inhibition of the expression of Pso p27.

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens ; immunology ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Psoriasis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Young Adult