The effect of topical isoprenaline on psoriatic skin.

Twelve patients with psoriasis were treated by the topical application of 0.1% isoprenaline sulphate ointment for 10 days. Topical white vaseline was used as a control in three patients with psoriasis. The mean glycogen level was found to be decreased significantly (from 120 +/- s.d. 40 to 58 +/- s.d. 26 mg/100 g of wet weight of involved skin) after topical application of 0.1 isoprenaline sulphate and the scaling also disappeared. Topical application of white vaseline did not produce any significant change in glycogen levels or scaling. The changes after isoprenaline application may have been due to an increase in the ratio of cyclic AMP/cyclic GMP which inhibited cell turnover and increased glycogenolysis.