The benefits, costs and risks of topical tar preparations in the treatment of psoriasis: considerations of cost effectiveness

Abstract

Cost-effectiveness analysis provides an analytical framework for comparing the costs, benefits, and risks of treatment. Using these techniques we evaluated topical tar in the treatment of psoriasis. Topical tar has, at most, a small benefit in accelerating the clearing of psoriasis. There is no systematic evidence to suggest that using topical tar during clearing extends the length of a remission. This analysis suggests that using topical tar may increase costs of therapy three-to thirteen-fold without substantial clinical benefits. Adequate data to support tar as a cost-effective agent in the treatment of psoriasis is lacking.