Inhibitory effect of roxithromycin on the myeloperoxidase activity of peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Its evaluation in patients with psoriasis and pustulosis palmaris et plantaris

Abstract

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity of peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocytes was examined in 5 patients with psoriasis and 5 patients with pustulosis palmaris et plantaris using a highly sensitive chemiluminescence method. Three patients with psoriasis (two pustular psoriasis and one psoriasis vulgaris) showed high MPO activities on per cell basis compared with the normal value, whereas there was no case exhibiting a high MPO activity among patients with pustulosis palmaris et plantaris. In these three patients with psoriasis, the oral administration of roxithromycin, 600 mg daily for 4 to 28 weeks, reduced the MPO activity of polymorphonuclear cells up to the normal value.
Our results indicate that roxithromycin has an in vivo ability to decrease the MPO activity of neutrophils and eosinophils.