Pharmaceutical preparation to be used as adjuvant treatment of the seborrheic dermatitis even in HIV positive subjects

Abstract: A pharmaceutical product to be used as adjuvant treatment of the seborrheic dermatitis even in HIV positive subjects is disclosed, which makes use of methionine, vitamin E and selenium as active principles concurring directly or indirectly in providing a protective response to the damages caused by lipoperoxidation and causing as a consequence together with a diet rich in PUFA-PL (polyunsaturated fatty acids of phospholipids) the skin homeostasis to be restored and the symptomatology of the skin dermatitis to regress.

Description: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical preparation which can be used in the dermatologic field and, more particularly, as adjuvant treatment of the seborrheic dermatitis even in HIV positive subjects. Seborrheic dermatitis has been referred to as a marker of AIDS. Of course it should be appreciated that it has not the same function of marker doubtless performed with a greater specificity by ulcerative chronic herpes simplex, oral hairy leukoplakia and epidemic kaposi. However, its presence with a particular acuteness and diffusion is very significant of HIV infection even because the epidemiologic incidence is 30% on the average. Recent researches reported in the literature (F. Ippolito et al.: "Seborrheic-like dermatitis in subjects having acquired immunodeficiency", Giorn. It. Ann. Ven., Vol. 124, 1989; F. Ippolito et al.: "Insufficient haematic levels of the polyunsaturated fatty acids of the phospholipids, vitamin E and glutathione peroxidase as likely risk factors in the onset and development of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome", Giorn. It. Derm. Ven. Vol. 125, 1990), have pointed out that the haematic levels of vitamin E, polyunsaturated fatty acids of the phospholipids (PUFA-PL) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) are considerably reduced in subjects having seborrheic dermatitis as well as in HIV positive subjects affected and non-affected by seborrheic dermatitis with respect to controlled healthy subjects being the same age. PUFA-PL play a vital role in the physiology of the cells including the epidermal cells as they keep the integrity and the fluidity of the cell membranes and contribute to the normal development of the cellular physiologic processes through the biosynthesis of the regulating eicosanoids (prostaglandins and leucotrienes) and in association with other messengers. PUFA are heading for peroxidation with ease, and the two major protective agents in vivo against the damage from lipoperoxides are vitamin E and GSH-PX. Thus, as reported in a number of printed papers of the literature, the primary site of the pathologies due to deficiency of vitamin E is the cell membrane. GSH-PX is adapted to modulate the radicalic reactions with chains supported by hydroperoxides. Since selenium is the prosthetic group of the enzyme, this element is very important for the neutralization in vivo of the damages due to lipoperoxidative processes. On the base of such clinical-epidemiological, biochemical remarks the inventors have noted that the therapeutic association of vitamin E, selenium and methionine administered in suitable proportion and posology is able to improve the general and cutaneous cell homeostasis. Firstly methionine is the precursor of the reduced glutathione, the main non-lipidic membrane antioxidant which is the essential component of the glutathione peroxidase, of which selenium is the prosthetic group, and the choline indispensable in the biosynthesis of the lecithin or phosphatidylcholine which is the major component of the phospholipids. The integration of vitamin E, the main lipidic antioxidant directly present in the membranes, and selenium by compensating the respective hematochemical deficiencies completes the action of the methionine on the hepatic functional capacity, thus making it possible to provide a valid protective response to the damage due to lipoperoxidation and as a consequence to restore the cutaneous homeostasis with the regression of the symptomatology of the seborrheic dermatitis. The administration of vitamin E and selenium cannot make up for the reduction of the polyunsaturated acids of the phospholipid fraction but there is needed the direct contribution of a diet rich in PUFA-PL present in the red meat, the cell membranes of which are generally characterized by high levels of eicosanoic acid, precursor of prostaglandins and leucotrienes playing an important role in the cell homeostasis. Considering the above cited data the pharmaceutical preparation according to the present invention is proposed with the following formulation for a capsule: Active principles: - L-methionine 150 mg - d,L-α-tocopherol equivalent to basic vitamin E 75 mg - selenium-D-L-methionine 0,65 mg equivalent to selenium 0.030 mg Excipients - capric-caprilic triglyceride 152.436 mg - glyceryl palmitostearate 5.000 mg - soybean lecithin 2.500 mg Researches have emphasized that the advisable posology ranges between a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 8 capsules a day.

Claims: Use of methionine in association with vitamin E and selenium as active principles for the preparation of a medicament for adjuvant treatment of the seborrheic dermatitis even in HIV positive subjects. Use of methionine in association with vitamin E and selenium according to claim 1, characterized in that said active principles contribute directly or indirectly to develop a protective action against the damage due to lipoperoxidase. Use of methionine in association with vitamin E and selenium according to the preceding claims, characterized in that selenium is present in an amount ranging between 0.015 and 0.025% by weight of methionine. Use of methionine in association with vitamin E and selenium according to the preceding claims, characterized in that selenium is used in the form of selenium-D-L-methionine. Use of methionine in association with vitamin E and selenium according to the preceding claims, characterized in that vitamin E is used in the form of d,L-tocopherol. Use of methionine in association with vitamin E and selenium according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the following formulation is provided for a capsule of pharmaceutical preparation: Active principles: - L-methionine 150 mg - d,L-α-tocopherol equivalent to basic vitamin E 75 mg - selenium-D-L-methionine 0,65 mg equivalent to selenium 0.030 mg Excipients - capric-caprilic triglyceride 152.436 mg - glyceryl palmitostearate 5.000 mg - soybean lecithin 2.500 mg Use of methionine in association with vitamin E and selenium according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the medicament is adapted to a daily administration of said active principles in ranges between 600 and 1200 mg of L-methionine, 300-600 mg of vitamin E and 0.120-0.240 mg of selenium corresponding to the administration of 4∼8 capsules pro die.

Inventors: IPPOLITO FERDINANDO, PASSI SIRO, IPPOLITO, FERDINANDO, PASSI, SIRO
Applicants: IST FISIOTERAP OSPITALROMA, ISTITUTI FISIOTERAPICI OSPITALIERI
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A61K33
IPC codes: A61K33