Conditions: Nail Psoriasis
Keywords: Nail Psoriasis Indigo Naturalis Indirubin Calcipotriol Nail Psoriasis Severity Index
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Enrollment: 33
Healthy volunteers: yes

Brief summary:
The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of indigo naturalis oil extract and calcipotriol solution in the treatment of psoriatic nails, to show that indigo naturalis oil extract may be a good choice for treating nail psoriasis, and potentially an effective alternative for those who do not respond well to traditional therapy.

Detailed description:
In the literature, the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine in treating nail psoriasis is rarely reported. Recently, the investigators developed a new product, indigo naturalis oil extract, which worked well in nail disease. In our randomized, observer-blind, vehicle-controlled trial showed that indigo naturalis oil extract is effective and safe in treating nail psoriasis. This study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of indigo naturalis oil extract with calcipotriol solution in patients with nail psoriasis using controlled, bilateral comparison

The investigators will enroll 33 patients with nail psoriasis from the ambulatory department of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Indigo naturalis oil extract will be consistently applied on either the left or right affected nail folds, while calcipotriol will be applied on the opposite side, both twice daily for 24 weeks, allowing intra-patient comparison. The nails will be assessed by two dermatologists before treatment and at week 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24.

Arms:
arm 1: A 5-ml eye drop bottles contain indigo naturalis powder mixed with olive oil, and the concentration was 200 ug indirubin per ml. Each subject was asked to apply one to two drops (0.05 ml per drop) of the solution twice daily onto the nail folds, plus the hyponychium, of affected nails. The maximum period of treatment was 24 weeks or until there was complete clearing of their nail psoriasis. arm 2: Calcipotriol solution (Daivonex® scalp solution, calcipotriol 50 ug/ml) was purchased from LEO Pharmaceutical Products, Ltd. (Ballerupt, Denmark) and also distributed into 5-ml eye drop bottles for this trial.Each subject was asked to apply one to two drops (0.05 ml per drop) of the solution twice daily onto the nail folds, plus the hyponychium, of affected nails. The maximum period of treatment was 24 weeks or until there was complete clearing of their nail psoriasis.

Interventions: intervention 1: Indigo Naturalis Extract in Oil intervention 2: Calcipotriol Solution
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: The participants applied indigo naturalis extract in oil topically to one of two bilaterally symmetrical psoriatic finger nails twice daily for 24 weeks. intervention 2: The participants applied calcipotriol solution topically to one of two bilaterally symmetrical psoriatic finger nails twice daily for 24 weeks.

Protocol document: