title: Tazarotene 0.1% gel in the treatment of fingernail psoriasis: a double-blind, randomized, vehicle-controlled study.
abstract: A double-blind, randomized, vehicle-controlled, parallel-group trial was performed to compare the efficacy and tolerability of tazarotene 0.1% gel and vehicle gel in 31 patients with fingernail psoriasis. Patients were randomized to receive tazarotene or vehicle gel, which they applied each evening for up to 24 weeks to 2 target fingernails, one under occlusion and one unoccluded. The tazarotene treatment resulted in a significantly greater reduction in onycholysis in occluded nails (P < or = .05 at weeks 4 and 12) and a significantly greater reduction in onycholysis in nonoccluded nails (P < or = .05 at week 24). Tazarotene also resulted in a significantly greater reduction in pitting in occluded nails (P < or = .05 at week 24). There were no other significant between-group differences in pitting, subungual hyperkeratosis, leukonychia, nail plate crumbling/loss, splinter hemorrhage, or nail growth rate. Tazarotene 0.1% gel was well tolerated with only 5 of the 21 tazarotene-treated patients reporting a treatment-related adverse event (all mild or moderate). In conclusion, tazarotene 0.1% gel can significantly reduce onycholysis (in occluded and nonoccluded nails) and pitting (in occluded nails) and is well tolerated in the treatment of nail psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Columbia University Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, New York, USA. onychium@aol.com
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Scher
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stiller
authors.forename: Y I
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000473:pathology*; D005782:Gels / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009518:New York; D009539:Nicotinic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D012176:Retinoids
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D005782:Gels; D009539:Nicotinic Acids; C086827:tazarotene; D012176:Retinoids