A systematic review of treatments for guttate psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Many different therapies are available for treating guttate psoriasis; however, there appears to be little objective evidence for their efficacy

OBJECTIVES: This review aims to assess the evidence for the effectiveness of treatments for guttate psoriasis. Antistreptococcal interventions for guttate psoriasis are addressed in a separate review.

METHODS: Studies were identified by searching the Cochrane Clinical Trials Register (Cochrane Library, Issue 3, 1999), Medline (1966-September 1999), Embase (1988-September 1999), Salford Database of Psoriasis Trials (to November 1999) and the European Dermato-Epidemiology Network (EDEN) Psoriasis Trials Database (to November 1999) for terms GUTTATE and PSORIASIS. We also searched 100 unselected randomized controlled trials of psoriasis therapy and all 112 randomized controlled trials of phototherapy for psoriasis in the Salford Database of Psoriasis Trials for separate stratification of guttate psoriasis.

RESULTS: No published report could be found to support or to challenge current commonly used methods of management. Only one trial that met the selection criteria was identified. In this small study of 21 hospitalized patients with guttate psoriasis, intravenous infusion of an n-3 fatty acid rich lipid emulsion was compared with placebo emulsion containing n-6 fatty acids. The n-3 preparation appeared to be of some benefit for patients with guttate psoriasis.

CONCLUSION: There is currently no firm evidence on which to base treatment of acute guttate psoriasis. Studies comparing standard treatment modalities, including phototherapy and topical regimens, are required to enable informed decisions on treatment choices to be made.