Antipsoriatic activity of 10-acyl analogues of dithranol (anthralin). I. Phase I clinical trial of 10-propionyl dithranol and 10-butyryl dithranol (butantrone)

Dithranol, 10-propionyl dithranol and 10-butyryl dithranol were compared as regards their antipsoriatic, staining and irritative properties. They were applied under 12-mm Finnchambers on the lesional skin of 17 psoriasis patients every second day for 20 days. In 9 patients their concentration was equimolar (2 mmol/kg of white petrolatum) corresponding to 0.05% dithranol, and in 8 patients the concentrations were 2, 4, and 8 mmol for dithranol, 10-propionyl dithranol and 10-butyryl dithranol, respectively. Without regard to the concentration, they all produced under occlusion almost equal thinning of the lesions, but when a 2 mmol concentration was used, 10-butyryl dithranol (butantrone) showed least staining and irritation on the treated sites.