Treatment of progressive pigmented purpura with oral bioflavonoids and ascorbic acid: an open pilot study in 3 patients.

Abstract

Bioflavonoids and ascorbic acid have been shown to increase capillary resistance and to mediate potent antioxidative radical scavenging activities. We evaluated the clinical effect of oral bioflavonoids and ascorbic acid in patients with chronic progressive pigmented purpura (PPP). In an open pilot study, oral rutoside (50 mg twice a day) and ascorbic acid (500 mg twice a day) were administered to 3 patients with chronic PPP. At the end of the 4-week treatment period, complete clearance of the skin lesions was achieved in all 3 patients. No adverse reactions were noted. All patients remained free of lesions at the end of 3 months after treatment. Our results suggest a beneficial effect of bioflavonoids in combination with ascorbic acid on PPP. Because the disease is mostly resistant to other treatment modalities, placebo-controlled studies are necessary to determine the usefulness of this therapy in PPP.