Efficacy and safety of thymopentin in patients suffering from progressive systemic sclerosis

The exact etiology ofprogressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) is still unknown; moreover, immunologic disorders appear to play a role in its pathogenesis. We therefore performed an open study with an immunomodulating drug, thymopentin, in 20 PSS outpatients. The subjects were initially treated with thymopentin three times a week for three consecutive months (first phase). During a second study phase lasting three months, ten patients continued to receive thymopentin and the remaining ten received placebo (second phase). A significant improvement in various clinical, laboratory, and instrumental parameters was found following thymopentin treatment. During the second phase, the patients on placebo regressed to baseline conditions, while further improvement was revealed in those who continued receiving thymopentin.