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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

The Goeckerman Regimen for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis
Published on: July 11, 2013
Genotoxic hazard and cellular stress in pediatric patients treated for psoriasis with the Goeckerman regimen
Lenka Borska1, Ctirad Andrys, Jan Krejsek
1Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Institute of Pathological Physiology, Charles University in Prague, Simkova, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. borka@lfhk.cuni.cz
Abstract:
The Goeckerman regimen (GR) represents a local treatment of psoriasis and includes topical dermal application of crude coal tar (containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and exposure to UV-irradiation. The aim of the study was to evaluate contribution of GR to genotoxic risk and cellular stress in pediatric patients who represent a sensitive population subgroup. Genotoxic risk (42 patients) was evaluated by using chromosomal aberrations (CA) in peripheral lymphocytes. Cellular stress (26 patients) was assessed by using heat shock proteins (Hsp70). All indicators were determined in blood samples collected before GR and immediately after GR. Decreasing of psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score indicated higher likelihood of GR (p < 0.001). Significantly increased CA (p < 0.001) and Hsp70 (p < 0.05) indicated higher genotoxic risk and cellular stress in sensitive pediatric patients, immediately after GR.
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