Research Article

Pycnogenol® treatment of acute hemorrhoidal episodes

  1. Gianni Belcaro1,
  2. Maria Rosaria Cesarone1,
  3. Bruno Errichi1,
  4. Andrea Di Renzo1,
  5. Maria Giovanna Grossi1,
  6. Andrea Ricci1,
  7. Mark Dugall1,
  8. Umberto Cornelli1,
  9. Marisa Cacchio1,
  10. Peter Rohdewald2,*

Article first published online: 29 DEC 2009

DOI: 10.1002/ptr.3021

Issue

Phytotherapy Research

Phytotherapy Research

Volume 24, Issue 3, pages 438–444, March 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Belcaro, G., Cesarone, M. R., Errichi, B., Di Renzo, A., Grossi, M. G., Ricci, A., Dugall, M., Cornelli, U., Cacchio, M. and Rohdewald, P. (2010), Pycnogenol® treatment of acute hemorrhoidal episodes. Phytotherapy Research, 24: 438–444. doi: 10.1002/ptr.3021

Author Information

  1. 1

    Irvine2 Vascular Labs & Microcirculation, Physiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, G D'Annunzio University. General Surgery, Guardiagrele (Ch)-Ortona (Pe) Pescara, San Valentino Vascular Screening Project, Italy

  2. 2

    Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Münster, Hittorfstr. 58-62, 48149 Münster, Germany

*Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Münster, Hittorfstr. 58-62, 48149 Münster, Germany

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 19 FEB 2010
  2. Article first published online: 29 DEC 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 19 AUG 2009
  4. Manuscript Received: 27 JUL 2009

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Keywords:

  • hemorrhoids;
  • Pycnogenol®;
  • venous insufficiency;
  • hemorrhoidal bleeding

Abstract

We investigated the efficacy of orally and topically applied Pycnogenol® for the management of acute hemorrhoidal attacks in a controlled, randomized study with 84 subjects. Within less than 48 h of onset of an acute attack, patients were enrolled and signs and symptoms were scored. This evaluation was repeated after seven days' treatment and again seven days following treatment cessation. The decrease in scores was significantly more pronounced in the Pycnogenol®-treated groups than in the control group given placebo (p < 0.05), showing the efficacy of Pycnogenol® for relieving signs and symptoms of acute external hemorrhoids. In a group of patients given topical (0.5%) Pycnogenol® in addition to oral Pycnogenol® the improvement in symptoms set in significantly faster and was more pronounced. The most prominent symptom, hemorrhoidal bleeding, was completely absent in all patients treated with Pycnogenol® for seven days and also at the 14 days follow-up. In contrast, bleedings were still observed in the control group during the two weeks follow-up. This study indicates that Pycnogenol®, both in oral and in topical form, is effective for controlling this common, disabling health problem. The application of Pycnogenol® eases the management of acute hemorrhoidal attacks and help avoid bleedings. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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