Once-daily tazarotene gel versus twice-daily fluocinonide cream in the treatment of plaque psoriasis.
BACKGROUND
A new class of topical receptor-selective acetylenic retinoids, the first of which is tazarotene, has been developed.


OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to compare the safety, efficacy, and duration of therapeutic effect of 12 weeks of once-daily tazarotene 0.1% and 0.05% gel with that of twice-daily fluocinonide 0.05% cream in the treatment of patients with plaque psoriasis.


METHODS
Three hundred forty-eight patients with plaque psoriasis were enrolled and 275 patients completed a multicenter, investigator-masked, randomized, parallel-group clinical trial.


RESULTS
Both tazarotene gels were as effective as fluocinonide in reducing plaque elevation after 1 week of treatment, and tazarotene 0.1% gel was similar to fluocinonide in reducing scaling of trunk/limb lesions at all study weeks except week 4. Tazarotene 0. 1% gel was similar to fluocinonide in reducing scaling of knee/elbow lesions at weeks 8 and 12. Fluocinonide had a significantly greater effect on erythema than tazarotene at weeks 2 through 8. However, treatments were not significantly different at week 12, and tazarotene demonstrated significantly better maintenance of therapeutic effect after cessation of therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Tazarotene 0.1% and 0.05% gels were safe and effective in the treatment of mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis.
Lebwohl
M
M
Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York 10029, USA.
Ast
E
E
Callen
J P
JP
Cullen
S I
SI
Hong
S R
SR
Kulp-Shorten
C L
CL
Lowe
N J
NJ
Phillips
T J
TJ
Rosen
T
T
Wolf
D I
DI
Quell
J M
JM
Sefton
J
J
Lue
J C
JC
Gibson
J R
JR
Chandraratna
R A
RA
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004890:Erythema / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005447:Fluocinonide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005782:Gels; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006801:Humans; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009539:Nicotinic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012449:Safety; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D012176:Retinoids
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D005447:Fluocinonide; D005782:Gels; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D009539:Nicotinic Acids; D011355:Prodrugs; C086827:tazarotene; D012176:Retinoids