title: The impact of the frequency of short contact dithranol treatment.
abstract: Dithranol short contact treatment is usually applied once a day. For some patients this does not fit their possibilities or needs. Therefore we investigated the efficacy of two other treatment strategies in two small groups of patients. In the attempt to shorten the treatment time, one group of patients was treated twice daily. In order to not withhold short contact dithranol treatment from patients who are unable to perform the treatment daily or at home, a thrice-weekly treatment regimen was studied. 8 patients were treated twice daily and all achieved at least a 90% reduction of the area of involved skin (clearance) within 12.3 (+/- 1.6) weeks. In the thrice weekly group six out of eight patients achieved a clearance of their psoriasis within 13.1 (+/- 4.2) weeks. The aim of shortening the treatment period was not achieved by twice daily treatment in a day-care centre. However, the thrice-weekly treatment regimen certainly appeared to be an effective one. Further studies are needed on larger populations of patients to find out the optimal regimen for intermittent dithranol short contact treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Medical Centre St. Radboud, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. M.Prins@derma.azn.nl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prins
authors.forename: O Q
authors.initials: OQ
authors.lastname: Swinkels
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Van de Kerkhof
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Van der Valk
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000875:Anthralin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000875:Anthralin