To observe the clinical curative effect of Chinese herbal medicine combined with acitretin capsule in treating psoriasis of blood-heat syndrome (P-BH). Eighty patients of P-BH were randomly assigned to two groups

39 in Group A and 41 in Group B. Both was treated with Chinese herbal medicines for clearing heat

cooling blood and removing toxic substance

and acitretin capsule was given to Group A additionally

with 8 weeks as one therapeutic course. The clinical curative effect was compared between groups

and the change of psoriasis activity severe index (PASI) scores before and after treatment was observed. The total effective rate in Group A was 84.2% and that in Group B 68.2%

also showing significance between groups (P<0.01). PASI score lowered significantly after treatment in both groups

showing statistical significance (P<0.01)

but no significant difference between groups. Little adverse reaction was found in Group B

while in Group A

the adverse reaction was of even milder degree

which could be alleviated by adjusting the herbal medicine and symptomatic treatment administration. The effect of Chinese herbal medicine combined with acitretin capsule was superior to Chinese herbal medicine alone in treating P-BH

but the adverse reaction of acitretin capsule could be alleviated by adjusting the herbs used. However

the result is waiting to be verified further by larger samples.