title: Comparison of topical 8-methoxypsoralen and narrowband ultraviolet B with narrowband ultraviolet B alone in treatment-resistant sites in plaque-type psoriasis: a placebo-controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Combination of topical methoxsalen and narrowband ultraviolet B (NBUVB) was shown to be more effective than NBUVB alone in treating plaque-type psoriasis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To find out whether topical methoxsalen and NBUVB had any benefit in induction of remission on treatment-resistant plaques of psoriasis on the legs in comparison with NBUVB alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients were included. Two symmetric lesions with similar Psoriasis Severity Index score on the lower legs were randomly assigned to be treated with cold cream as placebo or 0.1% 8-methoxypsoralen (8MOP) cream 15 min before phototherapy with NBUVB. Phototherapy was given three times per week for up to three months. Severity scores were recorded each week and side effects were observed before each session.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant decrease in the severity score was observed in both groups (P-value < 0.001), but none of the lesions cleared completely at the end of the study. The decrease of the score in the 8MOP arm was greater than the control arm; however, the difference was not significant. The only side effect was pigmentation that occurred in all of the 8MOP-treated patients after 2 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We could not confirm any significant benefit of topical methoxsalen and NBUVB in comparison to NBUVB alone in treating resistant plaques of psoriasis on the legs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir-Houshang
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ehsani
authors.forename: Haydeh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghaninejad
authors.forename: Amin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiani
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daneshpazhooh
authors.forename: S Hamed
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.forename: Pedram
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Noormohammadpoor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008730:Methoxsalen / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D008730:Methoxsalen