Tar gel-phototherapy for psoriasis. Combined therapy with suberythemogenic doses of fluorescent sunlamp ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

To determine the efficacy of suberythemogenic ultraviolet phototherapy in conjunction with administration of a tar gel (SEUV TG), patients with widespread psoriasis were treated by application of a tar gel preparation followed after 12 hours by suberythemogenic doses of fluorescent sunlamp irradiation. In paired comparison studies, therapeutic effects of the following treatments were evaluated: SEUV-TG, a more conventional erythemogenic tar gel phototherapy regimen (modified Goeckerman), the tar gel alone, and SEUV irradiation following application of gel vehicle. Response to therapy was monitored with a severity score system. In patients with psoriasis responsive to phototherapy, smaller quantities of UV energy administered in combination with a tar gel were at least as effective as larger erythemogenic doses. Production of erythema with fluorescent sunlamp radiation does not appear to be necessary to improve psoriasis. Both UV radiation and tar gel have beneficial effects on psoriasis, but the combination is superior.

Goeckerman therapy for the treatment of eczema: a practical guide and review of efficacy

“…According to him, tar is a photosensitizer which when combined with UVB light produces efficacy greater than either treatment alone. Further studies have confirmed that tar plus UVB is more effective than either therapy alone [7–9]. This is also supported by our study, since many of our patients had used phototherapy in the past (57.1%) with inadequate results.…”

European S3‐Guidelines on the systemic treatment of psoriasis vulgaris

“…All of the above‐mentioned studies in this section were assigned a grade of evidence of B, resulting in an overall level of evidence of 3 due to conflicting results. For further studies on phototherapy included by the systematic literature search 258–264 see the online evidence tables.…”

S3 – Guidelines on the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris (English version). Update

“…A total of six studies met the criteria for inclusion in the guidelines. Only one study (grade C) examined coal tar monotherapy [145]. This results in an evidence level of 4.…”