A comparative study of once daily tazarotene versus combination of tazarotene and betamethasone valerate in the treatment of plaque psoriasis

Abstract

Objective To compare the efficacy of once daily tazarotene and combination of tazarotene and betamethasone valerate in the treatment of plaque psoriasis. Materials and Methods A clinical trial was carried out for the duration of six months from November 2012 to April 2013 in the department of Dermatology and Venereology, Sir Salimullah Medical College, Mitford hospital, Dhaka. Patients who presented with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis, aged 18 to 60 years, were included in the study. In group A, 30 patients applied only tazarotene (0.1%) once in the evening and in group B, 30 patients applied once daily betamethasone in the morning plus tazarotene (0.1%) in the evening. The effectiveness of treatment was assessed at baseline and at the end of 4th week and 12th week of the study. Results The mean PASI Score in group A and group B reduced from 17.61±2.23, 19.16±2.37 respectively to 9.24±1.09 and 4.92±0.51 (p<0.001), after 3 months of treatment.  In group A and group B, 47.48% and 74.24% reduction of PASI was observed respectively after treatment. In Group A, among 30 patients, 21 (70%) had adverse effects. The most common adverse effects were burning 7(33.3%), irritation 4(19.0%), dry skin and pruritus 3(14.3%), fissuring, bleeding and worsening of psoriasis 2(9.5%). In Group B, among 30 patients, 10 (33.3%) experienced adverse effects. The most common adverse effects were burning 4(40%), irritation 3(30%), dry skin and pruritus 2(20.0%). Conclusion Topical tazarotene seems to be significant and well tolerated agent for the treatment of plaque type psoriasis. But combination of tazarotene and betamethasone valerate proved to be more significant and well tolerated in terms of effectiveness and safety measures.