inosine-pranobex and Dermatitis--Contact

Recent developments in alopecia areata have included the use of oral inosine pranobex and the introduction of diphencyprone as a contact sensitizer. Good results have been claimed for these treatments even in severe forms of the disease. We performed a study to investigate the efficacy of a combination of these treatments in the most severe form of alopecia areata. Thirty-three patients suffering from alopecia totalis were enrolled. Subjects were divided into three groups matched for age and sex. One group received treatment with inosine pranobex (50 mg/kg/day) for 6 months. The second was sensitized to diphencyprone and treated for 6 months by maintenance of contact allergic dermatitis on the scalp. The third received both treatments. There was no evidence of response to inosine pranobex in any of the 22 subjects who received this treatment. Only two of 22 patients responded to diphencyprone. Patients with long-standing alopecia totalis contemplating diphencyprone therapy should be advised that the chances of success are only around 10%. Inosine pranobex does not appear to improve the response rate.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Alopecia; Cyclopropanes; Dermatitis, Contact; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Hair; Humans; Inosine Pranobex; Male; Middle Aged

Isoprinosine (50 mg/kg i.p.) increased the ear swelling reaction in mice sensitized with trinitro-chlorobenzene (picryl chloride) and challenged with the same agent. Enhancements were observed when the drug was administered either simultaneously to the sensitization or to the challenge with picryl chloride. Similar results were obtained when lymphoid cells from sensitized animals were transferred i.v. to normal animals which were then challenged with picryl chloride. Using the same cell transfer system, we found that treatment of cell donors with Isoprinosine (50 mg/kg/day, i.p.) counteracts the inhibition induced by cyclophosphamide. Isoprinosine (50 mg/kg/day, i.p.) inhibited also the generation of antigen-specific suppressor cells induced by picryl-sulfonic acid as shown by transfer to normal recipients of suppressor cells together with lymphoid cells from sensitized animals. These results indicate that Isoprinosine enhances normal contact sensitivity reactions and can counteract, under certain circumstances, antigen-specific as well as nonspecific immunosuppression.

Topics: Animals; Cyclophosphamide; Dermatitis, Contact; Female; Hypersensitivity, Delayed; Immune Tolerance; Immunity, Cellular; Immunization, Passive; Inosine; Inosine Pranobex; Male; Mice; Picryl Chloride; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory