A RANDOMISED OPEN LABEL PARALLEL GROUP STUDY COMPARING THE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF TOPICAL CLOBETASOL PROPIONATE WITH TOPICAL TAZAROTENE IN THE TREATMENT OF PLAQUE TYPE PSORIASIS
Topical corticosteroids are the most commonly used agents for the treatment of mild to moderate psoriasis. However long term use of steroids is associated with adverse effects such as atrophy of skin, hypopigmentation and various systemic effects. Topical tazarotene has also shown to be efficacious in psoriasis. This study has been undertaken to compare the efficacy and safety of clobetasol propionate (corticosteroid) with tazarotene (third generation retinoid) in chronic plaque type psoriasis. Patients who met the eligibility criteria were randomized to either of the two groups and received their respective treatments for a period of 12 weeks. Severity of lesions was graded based on ESI (Erythema. Scaling, Induration), PASI(Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) and PGA(Physician Global Assessment) scoring at baseline, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks. Both serious and non serious adverse events were noted during each follow up. Post treatment follow up was done at 16th week. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (Statistical package for social sciences) and analysis was done using unpaired t test, chisquare test and ANOVA. The mean percentage change in PASI score in clobetasol propionate group after 12 weeks of therapy was 73.09% and in tazarotene group was 62.69%. There was a statistically significant reduction (p>0.05) in ESI score in both the study groups with clobetasol showing a reduction of 87.5%, 83.3% and 68.75% in severity of erythema, scaling and induration respectively and tazarotene showing a reduction of 72.9%, 56.7% and 79.1% in intensity of erythema, scaling and induration respectively at the end of 12 weeks of therapy. There was a decrease in overall physicians global assessment grading in both the study groups. This study proves that topical tazarotene is a safe, effective, well tolerated therapy and a good alternative for clobetasol propionate in patients with chronic plaque type psoriasis