The effect of triethanolamine application on anthralin-induced inflammation and therapeutic effect in psoriasis

Twenty patients with chronic plaque psoriasis were treated with short-contact anthralin followed by 10% triethanolamine application to one side of the body and aqueous cream to the other. Anthralin-induced inflammation was inhibited on the triethanolamine-treated side whereas anthralin therapy had to be temporarily stopped in 18 patients on the aqueous cream side because of anthralin-induced inflammation. Therapeutic response was not different in the two sides. This study shows that anthralin-induced inflammation and its therapeutic effect can be dissociated.