title: A randomized controlled comparison of the efficacy of Dead Sea salt balneophototherapy vs. narrowband ultraviolet B monotherapy for chronic plaque psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dead Sea (DS) salt solution soaks are used in combination with narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) to treat psoriasis in many centres, particularly in continental Europe. No previously published controlled study has assessed DS salt + NB-UVB balneophototherapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare DS salt balneophototherapy with NB-UVB monotherapy for chronic plaque psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients with chronic plaque psoriasis participated in this paired, controlled study, with pretreatment DS salt soaks randomly allocated to each participant's right or left study limb. Psoriasis severity was assessed with a Scaling, Erythema and Induration score by a blinded observer. Assessments were weekly during the therapy course, and thereafter 8-weekly until relapse or for up to 1 year after clearance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean area under the psoriasis severity-time curves during treatment was not detectably lower with DS salt balneophototherapy than with NB-UVB monotherapy (P = 0.099). The psoriasis severity score fell slightly more from beginning to end of courses with DS salt balneophototherapy than with NB-UVB monotherapy (P = 0.019). There was no detectable difference in times to relapse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this population the addition of pretreatment DS salt soaks to NB-UVB did not result in a clinically important improvement in clearance of psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Photobiology Unit, Department of Dermatology, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK. r.s.dawe@dundee.ac.uk
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Dawe
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yule
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moseley
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ibbotson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferguson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001494:Baths; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004890:Erythema; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008900:Mineral Waters; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D008900:Mineral Waters; D012965:Sodium Chloride