Palmoplantar psoriasis: treatment with calcipotriol and local UVA radiation compared with local PUVA

ABSTRACT

Palmoplantar psoriasis could hardly be differentiated from chronic tylotic eczema both clinically and histologically. The most commonly used therapeutic options for palmoplantar psoriasis are long-term therapy with topical corticosteroids and local PUVA. Frequently, it is a recalcitrant disease. We investigated the efficacy and tolerability of the combination of topical calcipotriol with local UVA radiation in comparison with local PUVA therapy. In a total of 43 patients with palmoplantar psoriasis, 33 were given 15 sessions of local UVA radiation and topical calcipotriol and the remainder received 15 sessions of local PUVA [psoralen + UVA radiation]. The statistical analyses of the results showed that the effect and tolerability of both therapeutic modalities are comparable. Combination of topical calcipotriol and local UVA radiation is an optional corticosteroid-free therapeutic modality for palmoplantar psoriasis. It has a comparable effectiveness and tolerability with local PUVA