Publication:

Narrow band UVB therapy versus tazarotene and narrow band UVB combination therapy in psoriasis: a comparative study

Background Narrow band UVB phototherapy (NBUVB) is considered one of the most effective therapeutic modalities for patients with psoriasis. The long term side effects of narrowband UVB therapy have not been fully documented. There has been a great deal of interest in photo combination therapies that are capable of both reducing cumulative UVB doses and accelerating resolution of skin lesions. The aim of our study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of NBUVB plus tazarotene combination therapy with NBUVB mono therapy.

Methods Forty patients with chronic plaque type psoriasis were taken up for the study and were randomly divided into two groups of 20 each. One group was treated with thrice-weekly NBUVB phototherapy and the other group received NBUVB phototherapy thrice weekly in addition to topical tazarotene once daily at bed time.

Results In the tazarotene combination group, the reduction in PASI score was more rapid. The duration of treatment and the mean cumulative dose of NBUVB was lesser in the tazarotene combination group. Irritation due to tazarotene was mild and combination of tazarotene with NBUVB was well tolerated.

Conclusions We concluded that combination of tazarotene with NBUVB was well tolerated and was significantly more effective than NBUVB phototherapy alone.