title: Clinical efficacy of flumetasone/salicylic acid ointment combined with 308-nm excimer laser for treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of combining flumetasone ointment with 308-nm excimer laser therapy vs. 308-nm excimer laser monotherapy for the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients with psoriasis vulgaris were recruited; 20 were treated with flumetasone ointment plus 308-nm excimer laser therapy, and the other 20 received only excimer laser monotherapy. The flumetasone ointment was applied topically twice a day, and laser treatments were scheduled twice weekly for a total of 10 treatments. Clinical efficacy was evaluated in a blinded manner by two independent physicians using photographs taken before and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 40 patients who received and completed the entire course of therapy, the psoriasis area and severity index score was improved by 82.51 ± 11.24% and 72.01 ± 20.94% in the combination group and laser group, respectively (P > 0.05), and the average cumulative dose was 5.06 ± 2.20 j/cm(2) in the combination group and 7.75 ± 2.25 j/cm(2) in the laser-only group, respectively (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical data suggest that combination treatment using flumetasone ointment and a 308-nm excimer laser is superior to laser monotherapy for treatment of psoriasis vulgaris. The combination therapy can increase effectiveness and decrease the total laser dose, thus potentially reducing side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Yanling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Xiuying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yixuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yongjing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005443:Flumethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000628:therapy*; D020156:Salicylic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D009824:Ointments; D005443:Flumethasone; D020156:Salicylic Acid