A Comparative Evaluation of Modined Goeckerman Regimen and Oral Psoralens Plus Phototherapy in Psoriasis

I Employing psoralen plus solar irradiation therapy in 20 patients with plaque psoriasis, improvement was noted in 55% of the patients. The overall improvement rate was however higher (95%) with coal tar plus solar irradiation treatment in the other group of 20 patients. In both groups, improvement in 20% of patients each could be discounted on account of the natural course of the disease. One patient in the psoralen group went into erythroderma and another could not tolerate the drug because of marked nausea, headache and gwancss - Perhaps, the UVA in th sunlight is not sufficient and a high intensity 11,VA source is required to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of psoralen treatment. For want of information on toxic effects of such a therapy and until the time such a source is available tar ointment or baths in conjunction with sunlight seems a good altemative.