title: The safety and efficacy of tazarotene gel, a topical acetylenic retinoid, in the treatment of psoriasis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the safety and efficacy of topically applied tazarotene gel in the treatment of mild to moderate psoriatic plaques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two multicenter, double-blind, randomized studies of 6- and 8-week duration, with an 8-week follow-up in the second study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical center outpatient dermatology services.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred fifty-three adults with 2 bilateral target plaques on the trunk, legs, or arms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vehicle gel or 0.01% and 0.05% tazarotene gel administered twice daily to 45 patients (study A), or 0.05% and 0.1% tazarotene gel administered either once or twice daily to 108 patients (study B).
  
  
  METHODS
  Treatment success and plaque elevation, scaling, and erythema vs time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 0.01% tazarotene gel showed minimal efficacy. Applications of 0.05% and 0.1% tazarotene gels administered once or twice daily, resulted in significant improvements in plaque elevation, scaling, erythema, and overall clinical severity as early as 1 week. Treatment success rates (defined as > 75% improvement from baseline) were 45% with 0.05% tazarotene gel vs 13% with vehicle gel after 6 weeks of treatment (P < .05; study A) and ranged from 48% to 63% with the various tazarotene treatment regimens after 8 weeks of treatment (study B). These improvements were evident at the 8-week follow-up. Treatment-related adverse effects were generally limited to mild or moderate local irritation and were less frequent with the treatment regimen administered once daily.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 0.05% and 0.1% tazarotene gels demonstrated significant efficacy in the treatment of mild to moderate psoriatic plaques that persisted after cessation of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, USA.
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Krueger
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Drake
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Elias
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guzzo
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lew-Kaya
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lue
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sefton
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Chandraratna
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology; D004890:Erythema / Q000139:chemically induced; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D009539:Nicotinic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012176:Retinoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D005782:Gels; D009539:Nicotinic Acids; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D012176:Retinoids; C086827:tazarotene