OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy of narrow band ultraviolet bin (NB-UVB) combined with Yuyin Recipe (YYR) in treating psoriasis vulgaris (PV).

METHODSOne hundred and nineteen patients with PV were randomly assigned to 2 groups by envelop method, the 62 patients in the treated group were treated with NB-UVB and YYR bathing, and the 57 in the control group were treated with NB-UVB alone. The course of treatment for both groups was 8 weeks. PASI scoring was performed before treatment and at the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th week of treatment respectively, and the treatment effect was evaluated depending on the decreasing rate of PASI score. The accumulated dose and side-effect of NB-UVB applied was observed.

RESULTSThe PASI scores in the treated group measured at various time points after treatment were significantly different to that of baseline (P < 0.05). The cure rate in the treated group and the control group was 69.35% and 24.56% while the total effective rate in them 96.77% and 71.93%, respectively, showing significant difference between the two groups (chi2 = 27.755, P <0.01). The difference of PASI decreasing rate between groups showed statistical significant from the 4th week (P <0.01). The total dose of NB-UVB applied in the treated group (9.95 +/- 4.76) was less than that in the control group (12.77 +/- 5.05) with the difference of statistical significance (t = 3.141, P <0.01). The adverse reaction occurrence in them was 4.84% (3/62) and 31.58% (18/57) respectively, also showing significant difference (chi2 = 119, P <0.01). CCONCLUSION: The combined use of TCM medicated bath with NB-UVB can enhance the curative effect, reduce the accumulated dosage and lessen the adverse reactions of ultraviolet radiation.