Efficacy of HESA-A in the Treatment of Chronic Plaque Type Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common inflammatory skin disorder. There has been considerable interest in herbal medicine as a treatment for psoriasis. In a previous study HESA-A, a marine-herbal drug, was found to be beneficial in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of HESA-A in patients with psoriasis. Nineteen patients with a mean PASI score of 13.04±6.14 (min=3.90, max=27.70) were recruited to receive daily dosage of 30 mg/kg of HESA-A tablets for at least 4 weeks. The patients were followed every two weeks for determining PASI score changes and drug side effects until the end of the study. At the end of the study, the mean PASI score of the patients reduced to 9.60±5.30 (min=0.90, max=19.1). PASI score reduced in 14 patients (73.7%) and increased in 5 patients (26.3%) during the study. Two patients achieved 75 to 100% improvement in PASI score and two achieved 50 to 75%. In 10 patients (52.6%), 1 to 50% improvement in the PASI score was detected. There was a statically significant correlation between the duration of treatment and PASI improvement. (P-value = 0.024) Although this drug was very safe and tolerable, our study did not find rapid and acceptable efficacy in the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis as shown in a previous study. According to our findings, HESA-A was more effective when used for a prolonged time and in respect of the safety profile of HESA-A, we can use this drug as a maintenance or adjuvant therapy for chronic plaque psoriasis in longer terms.