The influence of psoriatic plaques pretreatment with crude coal tar vs. petrolatum on the efficacy of narrow-band ultraviolet B: a half-vs.-half intra-individual double-blinded comparative study.

Type:Uv phototherapy   Time:2014-12-08 11:58:46
The influence of psoriatic plaques pretreatment with crude coal tar vs. petrolatum on the efficacy of narrow-band ultraviolet 

B: a half-vs.-half intra-individual double-blinded comparative study.
Abdallah MA1, El-Khateeb EA, Abdel-Rahman SH.
Author information
Abstract
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE:
The value of psoriatic plaques pretreatment with specific topical preparations in the setting of NB-ultraviolet-B (UVB) 

therapy is debatable. It may be clarified through a comparative assessment between crude coal tar and petrolatum as 

pretreatment candidates.
METHODS:
A prospective study included 40 patients with plaque psoriasis undergoing NB-UVB therapy. We compared among three treatment 

regimens: NB-UVB alone (control group; n=20) as well as NB-UVB preceded by crude coal tar 3% on one side and petrolatum on 

the other side (cases group I and II; n=20). Tar and petrolatum were topically applied thrice/day the day before NB-UVB 

exposure. Applications were removed using olive oil directly before NB-UVB exposure. Regimens' frequency was thrice/week and 

the clinical outcome was assessed, through both psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) and physician global assessment 

(PGA) scores, at baseline and 3 months later.
RESULTS:
There were significant (P<0.01) decreases in both PASI and PGA scores in all the groups. In comparison with the controls, 

cases revealed significantly (P<0.05) higher improvement percentages in both PASI and PGA scores for both tar and petrolatum. 

This influence, through the PGA score, was significantly (P<0.05) in favor of petrolatum.
CONCLUSION:
The pretreatment of psoriatic plaques with either petrolatum or crude coal tar may enhance the therapeutic outcome of NB-UVB, 

which appeared to favor petrolatum.
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