title: A multicentre general practice study to compare Psoradrate 0.1% and Dithrocream 0.1% in the treatment of chronic psoriasis.
abstract: a multicentre general practice study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of two proprietary dithranol preparations, Psoradrate 0.1% and Dithrocream 0.1%, in the treatment of chronic psoriasis, using a single blind, within-patient trial design. A total of forty-nine patients entered the study and treatment lasted for 6 weeks. Psoradrate 0.1% produced a greater mean per cent clinical improvement in psoriasis than Dithrocream 0.1% at each stage of the trial, and this difference was statistically significant (p equal to 0.025) at 4 weeks. The evidence also suggested that Psoradrate 0.1% resulted in greater reductions in psoriatic scaling. most patients found that the Psoradrate 0.1% was more effective and a significant majority (p equal to 0.01) thought that it worked faster than Dithrocream 0.1%. Although the increased effectiveness of the Psoradrate 0.1% was associated with a higher incidence of stinging/burning of the skin, this was not reflected in the patients' overall opinions of the treatments. Twenty-three patients preferred Psoradrate as against seventeen who preferred Dithrocream.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000873:Anthracenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000875:Anthralin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012647:Self-Assessment
chemical_list: D000873:Anthracenes; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D009824:Ointments; D000875:Anthralin