The purpose of this study is to determine whether using Taclonex ointment under a hydrogel patch is more effective than using the ointment alone in treating psoriasis. Taclonex ointment is currently FDA approved for use on psoriasis. The hydrogel patch is a type of adhesive pad and contains no medications. It is currently FDA approved and has been shown to be safe and virtually free of side effects. The hypothesis is that psoriatic plaques which are treated with Taclonex ointment under a hydrogel patch will be more effectively treated compared to psoriatic plaques treated with Taclonex alone.
This will be an open label, bilaterally-controlled single center study. Thirty subjects with plaque type psoriasis will be enrolled in the study. All subjects will receive treatment on two target lesions that are similar in erythema, scaling and induration, and symmetric in anatomic location. The severity of their target lesions will be assessed using a modified Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scoring system (Appendix A). Symmetrical target lesions must each be rated at a PASI score equal to or greater than 7 and be within 1 PASI score of each other. All subjects will apply Taclonex ointment to both target lesions once daily for 4 weeks. The occlusive dressing will be applied by the subject to one of the two symmetrical target lesions once daily for 4 weeks. The occlusive dressing will be removed by the patient if he/she experiences warmth, irritation, increased erythema, and/or itching. If the patch is removed due to these symptoms and signs, the subject will leave the lesion un-occluded until for 24 hours, at which time a new occlusive dressing will be placed. After the initial 4 weeks of treatment, there will be a follow up period of 6 weeks during which no treatment is used. Subjects will be restricted from using systemic therapies for psoriasis during this study, including Psoralen Ultraviolet A (PUVA) photochemotherapy and herbal therapies. All topical medications, except the study medications, and UVB phototherapy are prohibited on the target lesions. All of the other psoriasis lesions on the body can be treated as usual with other topical medications and Ultraviolet B (UVB) phototherapy as long as it does not impact on the two target lesions.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
35
Each patient will have bilateral symmetrical psoriatic plaques. One plaque will be treated with Taclonex Ointment daily along with Hydrogel Patch daily. All treatment will be for 4 weeks.
Taclonex ointment daily for one psoriatic plaque.
UCSF Psoriasis Skin and Treatment Center
San Francisco, California, United States
Change in Total Modified PASI Score at Week 4 Compared to Baseline
Modified psoriasis severity index measures erythema, induration, and scaling each measured from 0-4, with a maximum summed score of 12. A higher score means greater psoriasis severity and a lower score means lower psoriasis severity.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Change in Modified PASI Scores Between Week 4 and Week 6 During the Follow-up Period. This is to Determine Whether There is Further Improvement of Psoriasis After the Cessation of Occlusion
Change in Modified PASI Scores Between Week 4 and Week 6 During the Follow-up Period. This is to Determine Whether There is Further Improvement of Psoriasis After the Cessation of Occlusion.
Time frame: 6 Weeks
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