Clinical and thermographic study of Nucledil activity in rosacea

Starting with the assertion that alterations in the cutaneous microcirculation play a pre-eminent role in the pathogenesis of rosacea, the authors assess the efficacy of a recently introduced vasoactive substance, Nucledil, consisting of an extractive mixture of deoxyribonucleic acids, which was found to exert a considerable protective effect on histamine-induced capillary permeability in experimental studies. Twenty patients were examined suffering either from isolated manifestations or associated with erythema, telangiectasis, papules and pustules. The clinical evaluation was made using a scoring method, whereas changes in local thermal gradients were assessed using a telethermographic method associated with thermal stimulation for which an AGEMA telethermograph and Surgicon thermostimulator were used. Patients applied Nucledil cream every morning and evening for one month to the right side of the face and an inert cream to the other side. Controls were performed at weekly intervals. The results obtained highlight a significant improvement in symptoms, in particular the erythemato-telangiectasic component, whose values decreased significantly right from the first week of treatment. The thermographic study showed a gradual reduction of the mean temperature of the area treated with Nucledil in all subjects and this variation appeared to be most significant from the third week onwards. The compound was well tolerated, did not cause irritation and was cosmetically acceptable.