title: Efficacy and safety of non-laser, targeted UVB phototherapy alone and in combination with psoralen gel or calcipotriol ointment in the treatment of localized, chronic, plaque-type psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Topical drugs enhance the therapeutic effects of ultraviolet (UV)-based therapy for psoriasis. However, their efficacy has yet to be established in a clinical trial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to compare the efficacy of targeted microphototherapy alone and in combination with psoralen or calcipotriol in the treatment of plaque-type psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty individuals, affected by plaque-type psoriasis, were treated with targeted narrowband UVB phototherapy alone (Group 1), in combination with psoralen gel (Group 2), or in combination with calcipotriol ointment (Group 3) three times per week based on predetermined minimal erythema doses for 10 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients in each group completed the study. The percentages of improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and Psoriasis Severity Index (PSI) scores were 33.9% and 38.3% in Group 1, 29.9% and 29.8% in Group 2, and 67.2% and 59% in Group 3, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in improvement between Groups 1 and 2 (P > 0.05). Outcomes in Group 3 were found to be superior compared with those in the other groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The addition of calcipotriol ointment in targeted phototherapy enhances the therapeutic effects of phototherapy in the treatment of plaque-type psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Gulhane School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ilker
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Köse
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ozmen
authors.forename: Ercan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arca
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005363:Ficusin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D005782:Gels; D009824:Ointments; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; C055085:calcipotriene; D002117:Calcitriol; D005363:Ficusin