Quality assessmentNo of patientsEffectQuality
No of studiesDesignRisk of biasInconsistencyIndirectnessImprecisionOther considerationsCorticosteroid (potent)PlaceboRelative (95% CI)Absolute
Investigator’s assessment (maintaining clear/slight) – intermittent betamethasone dipropionate BD (follow-up 24 weeks)
1
Katz 1991
randomised trialsseriousano serious inconsistencyseriousbno serious imprecisionnone27/46 (58.7%)7/44 (15.9%)RR 3.69 (1.79 to 7.59)428 more per 1000 (from 126 more to 1000 more)⊕⊕○○
LOW
Time-to-relapse – intermittent betamethasone dipropionate BD (follow-up 24 weeks)
1
Katz 1991
randomised trialsseriousano serious inconsistencyseriouscno serious imprecisionnone16/46 (34.8%)35/44 (79.5%)HR 0.37 (0.21 to 0.67)351 fewer per 1000 (from 141 fewer to 512 fewer)⊕⊕○○
LOW
Withdrawals due to adverse events – intermittent betamethasone dipropionate BD (follow-up 24 weeks)
1
Katz 1991
randomised trialsseriousano serious inconsistencyno serious indirectnessno serious imprecisionnone0/44 (0%)0/42 (0%)not poolednot pooled⊕⊕⊕○
MODERATE
Skin atrophy – intermittent betamethasone dipropionate BD (follow-up 24 weeks)
1
Katz 1991
randomised trialsseriousano serious inconsistencyno serious indirectnessno serious imprecisionnone0/46 (0%)0/44 (0%)not poolednot pooled⊕⊕⊕○
MODERATE
a

Unclear allocation concealment and blinding

b

Definition of response does not match the review criteria for clear/nearly clear (broader - clear or slight on a 4-point scale; clear, slight, moderate, severe) and so may overestimate efficacy

c

Definition of relapse includes failure just at target plaques or in overall disease status

From: 8, Topical therapy

Cover of Psoriasis
Psoriasis: Assessment and Management of Psoriasis.
NICE Clinical Guidelines, No. 153.
National Clinical Guideline Centre (UK).
Copyright © National Clinical Guideline Centre - October 2012.

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