Resveratrol improves treatment outcome and laboratory parameters in patients with Takayasu arteritis: A randomized double-blind and placebo-controlled trial

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors have exhibited certain clinical efficacy in treating refractory Takayasu arteritis (TA), albeit with severe adverse effects. We aimed to explore the anti-TNF function of resveratrol, a natural compound, in the treatment of TA. A total of 271 patients diagnosed of acute TA were enrolled in this clinical trial, who were then randomized to be administered 250 mg resveratrol or placebo on a daily basis for a period of 3 months, and revisited biweekly to assess treatment outcomes. Primary treatment outcome was defined as the disease activity, determined using the Birmingham Vascular Activity Score (BVAS). Secondary outcome was defined by laboratory parameters, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and TNF-α. BVAS score and laboratory parameters of patients receiving resveratrol treatment exhibited a steady decline throughout the study. In contrast, outcomes remained practically unchanged in placebo-treated patients. Strong linear correlations were also observed between TNF-α with BVAS scores, ESR and plasma levels of CRP. Resveratrol could greatly improve treatment outcome and laboratory parameters in acute TA patients, likely due to its anti-TNF property.