Topical treatment of psoriasis with an ointment containing liver oil from ratfish (Chimaera Monstrosa). A Pilot study.

Abstract

Long-term treatment of psoriasis can be a challenge, mainly due to the tolerability problems with the potent corticoids used. Atrophy is a frequent problem in this respect. Intermittent treatment with other topical substances following the active drug period is therefore often used. The liver oil from ratfish (Chimaera Monstrosa) contains alkoxyglycerol and squalene. These substances have been reported to have excellent emollient effects on the skin and alkoxyglycerol seems to have immunostimulant properties. On this background, it was decided to carry out a clinical study with an ointment containing 10 %  ratfish liver oil in patients with psoriasis of the plaque type. In an open clinical pilot study for 4 weeks, we obtained impressive results in the treatment of psoriasis of the plaque type. A group of 30 patients participated in the study using an ointment containing 10% microencapsulated liver oil from ratfish (Chimaera Monstrosa). The liver oil consists mainly of squalene and alkoxyglycerol and was microencapsulated in β-cyclodextrin in order to mask the sticky odor of the oil. The patients had suffered from psoriasis in average for 8.8 (SD 1.0) years and all of them had tried most of the available therapies for the treatment of psoriasis. Of the 30 patients participating in the 4-week study, seven patients had minor psoriasis, of 16 patients had moderate psoriasis and seven patients had severe psoriasis of plaque type. The result indicated that the ratfish liver oil ointment might be an important and promising tool in the intermittent treatment of psoriasis. More clinical documentation in form of randomized controlled studies is needed before a final answer can be given.