Long-term evaluation of climatotherapy for psoriasis

Climatotherapy (CT) is a treatment with immediate high clearance rate for chronic psoriasis, but evidence of long-term effects is scarce. Assessment of the impact of a single CT treatment on disease activity and quality of life was carried out at 4- to 6-month follow-ups. A prospective study of patients with psoriasis undergoing 4 weeks of CT in Israel describes long-term outcomes of CT. Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores were assessed before CT and at an average of 5 months after return. Assessment of the eligibility for CT takes place twice a year. A total of 49 patients (28/21 M/F) participated. Pretreatment PASI was 2.6 to 18.7 (mean 8.1 ± 3.8) vs control PASI 0 to 16.9 (mean 5 ± 2.8), (P < .0001). Mean ΔPASI was 3.2 (39.5% reduction). PASI 75 was achieved by 11/49 patients; 10/49 had increased PASI. The mean DLQI score was 16.1 (range 2-30); 10.6 at follow-up (range 0-28), and 33 patients achieved DLQI minimal clinically important difference (P < .0001). Age, sex, number of previous CT, and duration of observation period did not affect endpoints. CT and unmonitored self-treatment induces PASI 75 in one-fifth patients at follow-up 4 to 6 months later. Six of 10 patients report a clinically important improvement of patients' quality of life as measured by DLQI.