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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2015 Feb 20;128(4):443-9.
doi: 10.4103/0366-6999.151069.

Efficacy and safety of Tripterygium wilfordii hook F versus acitretin in moderate to severe psoriasis vulgaris: a randomized clinical trial

Chao Wu, Hong-Zhong Jin  1 , Dan Shu, Feng Li, Chun-Xia He, Ju Qiao, Xiao-Ling Yu, Ying Zhang, Yi-Bo He, Tie-Jun Liu
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Efficacy and safety of Tripterygium wilfordii hook F versus acitretin in moderate to severe psoriasis vulgaris: a randomized clinical trial

Chao Wu et al. Chin Med J (Engl). .

Abstract

Background: Few clinical trials have evaluated the efficacy and safety of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF) compared with acitretin in psoriasis. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of TwHF compared with acitretin in the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis vulgaris.

Methods: Adults with Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score ≥ 10 and psoriasis-affected body surface area ≥ 10% were randomized into a TwHF (20 mg, 3 times a day) or acitretin group (30 mg, once a day). The treatment course lasted for 8 weeks. Patients were assessed at baseline and at 2, 4, and 8 weeks. Laboratory tests were performed at baseline, week 4, and week 8. The data were analyzed using paired samples t-test or analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Results: A total of 115 patients was enrolled (58 TwHF; 57 acitretin). The median PASI score improved in the TwHF group by 50.4% and in the acitretin group by 42.7%. There was no significant difference in median PASI improvement between two groups at 2, 4, and 8 weeks. There was also no significant difference in PASI 25, PASI 50, PASI 75, and PASI 90 response between the two groups at 2, 4, and 8 weeks. There was a significant increase in the level of aspartate transaminase and triglycerides in the TwHF group (P = 0.026 and P = 0.011, respectively). In the acitretin group, there was a significant increase in the level of alanine transaminase, cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (P = 0.030, P < 0.01, and P < 0.01, respectively).

Conclusions: There was no significant difference in treatment efficacy between the TwHF and acitretin groups within 8 weeks, but there were fewer treatment-related adverse events in the TwHF group.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Efficacy of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F and acitretin. (a) PASI 25 response; (b) PASI 50 response; (c) PASI 75 response; (d) Percentage PASI improvement.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Clinical appearance of a patient from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F group at baseline, weeks 2, 4, and 8.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Clinical appearance of a patient from acitretin group at baseline, weeks 2, 4, and 8.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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