Controlled study of PUVA and adjunctive topical therapy in the management of psoriasis

In a random study of 116 patients with psoriasis vulgaris, oral psoralen photochemotherapy (PUVA) used alone was compared to PUVA plus adjunctive topical therapy with tar, dithranol, or topical corticosteroids. PUVA plus topical corticosteroids produced more rapid clearing of psoriasis but despite maintenance therapy, the frequency of recurrences of the disease during the early phase of follow-up was significantly higher with that treatment, as compared to all other treatments. Dithranol plus PUVA also cleared psoriasis quicker than PUVA alone but patient acceptability for that regimen was low. The addition of tar to PUVA therapy appeared to have little influence on results.