LCD plus NB-UVB reduces time to improvement of psoriasis vs. NB-UVB alone.
BACKGROUND
Use of coal tar with narrowband (NB) ultraviolet B (UVB) light (the Goeckerman regimen) is an effective treatment for plaque psoriasis that has become impractical in outpatient care mainly due to the inconvenience and aesthetic concerns of coal tar.


OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the safety, efficacy, and convenience of adding a novel LCD (coal tar) solution to standard NB-UVB phototherapy in adults with chronic plaque psoriasis.


METHODS
Patients applied LCD solution to half-body twice daily at home and received outpatient full-body NB-UVB light therapy 3 times a week for up to 12 weeks. A blinded investigator graded psoriasis severity of body halves and bilateral target lesions and monitored adverse reactions. Patients rated their psoriasis symptoms and LCD solution aesthetics.


RESULTS
NB-UVB + LCD therapy reduced the median time to clearance or minimal disease in at least 50% of the population by 3 weeks (4 weeks with NB-UVB + LCD versus 7 weeks with NB-UVB alone). A statistically superior clinical response was observed by the end of week 4 with NB-UVB + LCD versus NB-UVB alone (P < 0.05) for: PGA, target lesions, ESI scores, and patient-reported symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Incorporating an at-home regimen with a novel LCD solution into outpatient NB-UVB light therapy is safe, convenient, effective, and can improve psoriasis more quickly than NB-UVB light therapy alone.
Psoriasis Treatment Center of Central New Jersey, East Windsor, NJ 08520, USA. dreamacres1@aol.com
Jerry
J
Bagel
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003033:Coal Tar / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects
D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D003033:Coal Tar