Dithranol therapy in childhood psoriasis: unjustifiably on the verge of falling into oblivion.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In childhood psoriasis, physicians aim for an effective and safe treatment such as with dithranol. This study presents the largest study of dithranol-treated patients described in the literature. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the position of dithranol in the treatment strategy for psoriasis. METHODS: All juvenile patients receiving dithranol treatment at our center were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Sixty patients (with 82 treatment episodes in total) were included. The mean age at the start of dithranol treatment was 11.1 years (range: 3.7-17.9 years). The result of the treatment was: excellent (3.7%), good (69.5%), moderate (8.5%), reasonable (13.4%) or disappointing (4.9%). Mild irritation was seen in 39%, and severe irritation in 63% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Dithranol can be regarded as an efficacious and safe topical therapy for the treatment of childhood psoriasis. It is a valuable alternative topical treatment which should not be disregarded in the treatment regimen for childhood psoriasis and should be commenced before ultraviolet or systemic treatments are initiated.