Comparison of calcipotriol-PUVA with conventional PUVA in the treatment ofpsoriasis

AIM: To compare the therapeutic efficacy of calcipotriol-PUVA therapy and P UVA in Korean patients with psoriasis, METHODS: A total of 38 patients were treated with conventional PUVA and 37 with calcipotriol-PUVA. A comparison was made between the total number of P UVA treatments and the total UVA dose required to reach clearance in the tw o groups. Thereafter, categorization into clearing, improvement and failure was undertaken, with measurement of the psoriasis area and severity index made at each visit. RESULTS: Cumulative UVA dose as well as the number and duration of treatmen ts in the calcipotriol-PUVA group were significantly lower than in the PUVA -treated group. Some 86% of patients treated with calcipotriol-PUVA showed clearing compared with 66% calcipotriol-PUVA showed of those treated by PUV A, In the calcipotriol-PUVA group, the patients with only moderate extent r equired fewer irradiation treatments, shorter durations of treatment, and a lower final and cumulative UVA dose to reach clearance than the severely a ffected group. CONCLUSION: Combining PUVA with calcipotriol in the treatment of psoriasis may reduce the risks of long-term UV radiation and improve the clinical res ponse.