Effect of Lipo-PGE1 on health-related quality of life in patients with systemic sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus in japan

We investigated the effect of Lipo-PGE(1), a prostaglandin (PG) E, preparation used to treat cutaneous ulcers associated with systemic sclerosis (SS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), on health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) using the Medical Outcome Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire. A total of 192 SS and SLE patients were treated for 3 months. At baseline the scores for each of the five SF-36 subscales were significantly lower than the age- and sex-adjusted standard values for the Japanese general population. After treatment, mean (+/- SD) SF-36 scores for body pain and general health perception significantly increased from 48.6 +/- 24.1 to 55.3 +/- 26.1 and from 36.8 +/- 16.7 to 40.2 +/- 17, respectively. Emotional QOL parameters including vitality and mental health, however, showed no improvement. Physician-rated symptom scores significantly improved after administration of Lipo-PGE(1), In conclusion, Lipo-PGE(1), improved both cutaneous ulcers and HRQOL, especially physical QOL.