Taclonex Ointment With Hydrogel Patch Occlusion for the Treatment of Psoriasis
Condition: Plaque Psoriasis; Psoriasis Vulgaris
MeSH terms: Psoriasis
Intervention: Taclonex Ointment and Hydrogel Patch; Taclonex Ointment
Intervention description: Each patient will have bilateral symmetrical psoriatic plaques. One plaque will be treated with Taclonex Ointment daily along with Hydrogel Patch daily. All treatment will be for 4 weeks.; Taclonex ointment daily for one psoriatic plaque.
Intervention MeSH terms: Calcitriol; Betamethasone
Phase: Phase 4
Study type: Interventional
Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Enrollment: 35.0
Sex: All
Minimum age: 18 Years
Healthy volunteers: No
Keywords: Psoriasis; Plaque psoriasis, with bilateral symmetrical lesions.; A diagnosis of stable plaque-type psoriasis vulgaris; with at least one pair of symmetric lesions on either; the trunk, arms, or legs that would serve as target lesions.

Summary:

      The purpose of this study is to determine whether using Taclonex ointment under a hydrogel
      patch is more effective than using the ointment alone in treating psoriasis. Taclonex
      ointment is currently FDA approved for use on psoriasis. The hydrogel patch is a type of
      adhesive pad and contains no medications. It is currently FDA approved and has been shown to
      be safe and virtually free of side effects. The hypothesis is that psoriatic plaques which
      are treated with Taclonex ointment under a hydrogel patch will be more effectively treated
      compared to psoriatic plaques treated with Taclonex alone.
    

Eligibility criteria:

        Inclusion Criteria:

          1. Subject has signed the informed consent form and Health Information Portability and
             Accountability Act (HIPAA) authorization form;

          2. Male or female subject at least 18 years of age;

          3. A diagnosis of stable plaque-type psoriasis vulgaris with at least one pair of
             symmetric lesions on either the trunk, arms, or legs that would serve as target
             lesions. Paired target lesions must be in similar anatomic locations (e.g., right and
             left elbows or right and left knees) and have roughly equivalent (no more than one
             point difference) modified Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) scores. Each paired
             target lesions must have PASI scores equal to or greater than 7;

          4. Any additional diagnoses must, in the investigator's opinion, not preclude the subject
             from safely participating in this study or interfere with the evaluation of the
             subject's psoriasis;

          5. Psoriasis must be clinically stable for at least 30 days before enrollment;

          6. Subject is able to discontinue the use of any medication or therapy for relief of
             psoriasis in the target areas to be treated;

          7. Subject is able to discontinue the use of any systemic medication or therapy (e.g.
             oral or injectable psoriasis medications, PUVA photochemotherapy, herbal remedies,
             etc.) for psoriasis;

          8. Subject must be reliable and mentally competent to complete study measurements;

          9. Subject is able to understand and agrees to comply with study requirements, attend
             study visits, and comply with the restrictions during the study.

        Exclusion Criteria:

          1. Subject has a skin disorder other than psoriasis in the target areas to be evaluated;

          2. Known hypersensitivity to any component of the test medications;

          3. Pigmentation, extensive scarring, or pigmented lesions in affected areas that would
             interfere with evaluation of efficacy parameters;

          4. Clinically infected psoriasis at baseline;

          5. Guttate, pustular, erythrodermic, or other non-plaque forms of psoriasis;

          6. Spontaneously worsening or improving psoriasis within 30 days of enrollment;

          7. Any evidence of atrophy in the areas selected for treatment with topical
             corticosteroid;

          8. Topical or intralesional therapies (other than emollients) or UVB phototherapy on
             potential target lesions within two weeks of starting study treatment;

          9. Systemic therapy, PUVA phototherapy, or a systemic investigational therapy for
             psoriasis within 30 days prior to study entry;

         10. Treatment with topical investigational therapy of the target lesions within 30 days
             prior to study entry;

         11. Subject is considered unreliable as to medication compliance or adherence to scheduled
             appointments as determined by the investigators.

         12. Subject is pregnant