title: The importance of the coal tar bath in the Ingram treatment of psoriasis. Evaluation by evaporimetry and laser Doppler flowmetry.
abstract: The contribution of the tar component to the efficacy of the Ingram regimen in the treatment of psoriasis was assessed in 11 patients with symmetrical lesions on the upper extremities. One arm was immersed in an oil emulsion bath and the other in a coal tar bath. Whole body ultraviolet irradiation followed, and dithranol paste was applied to all lesions. Healing was assessed clinically at weekly intervals, and was found to parallel the normalization of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) as determined by evaporimetry, and the dermal blood flow as evaluated by laser Doppler flowmetry. Results obtained with coal tar baths were not significantly different from those obtained with oil emulsion. We conclude that coal tar bath additive has no advantage over oil emulsion in the Ingram regimen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Frödin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skogh
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Molin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000875:Anthralin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D003033:Coal Tar / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008899:Mineral Oil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible
chemical_list: D003033:Coal Tar; D008899:Mineral Oil; D000875:Anthralin