title: Narrow band ultraviolet-B versus Goeckerman therapy for psoriasis with and without acitretin: A retrospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Narrow band ultraviolet-B (NB-UVB) is now one of the most widely used modalities in the treatment of psoriasis. However, despite its high efficacy, conventional Goeckerman treatment has fallen out of favor in recent years and some institutions are now using NBUVB with coal tar as their regimen.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of NB-UVB, Goeckerman therapy and the effect of addition of retinoid to the treatment regimen in the treatment of psoriasis,.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of 65 patients who underwent 81 courses of treatment in our department was undertaken. The efficacy of NB-UVB and Goeckerman therapy individually, and in combination with acitretin was assessed. Data were analysed to evaluate the contribution of acitretin to these modalities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PASI-75 responses in the NB-UVB, retinoid+NB-UVB (re-NB), Goeckerman and retinoid+Goeckerman (re-Goeckerman) groups were achieved for 12 of 31 patients (39%), 13 of 21 patients (62%), 15 of 17 patients (88%) and 10 of 12 patients, respectively. The addition of acitretin to both modalities reduced both the number of sessions and the cumulative ultraviolet-B dose delivered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is a retrospective study, the patients were not randomized and the number of patients in the treatment groups were dissimilar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Goeckerman therapy is more effective than NB-UVB phototherapy. Although the addition of acitretin to both NB-UVB and Goeckerman therapy did not contribute to treatment outcomes in terms of PASI-75 responses, it enabled a reduction in UV exposures and enhanced efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Gülhane School of Medicine, Ankara 06018, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ercan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Çalıskan
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tunca
authors.forename: Gürol
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Açıkgöz
authors.forename: Ercan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arca
authors.forename: Aslan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yürekli
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akar
mesh_terms: D017255:Acitretin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003033:Coal Tar / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020156:Salicylic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D003033:Coal Tar; D017255:Acitretin; D020156:Salicylic Acid