OBJECTIVE: To establish the efficacy and duration of remission post-treatment of calcitriol 3 micro g/g ointment in comparison with betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% ointment. METHODS: A randomized, multicentre trial was conducted in 258 adult patients with chronic plaque psoriasis. Calcitriol 3 microg/g ointment or betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% ointment was applied twice daily for 6 weeks or until complete clearance of lesions. Patients whose psoriasis cleared or were significantly improved and did not require treatment continuation at treatment endpoint were contacted over the following 8 weeks to determine whether relapse had occurred. RESULTS: Both treatments were efficacious; improvement in psoriasis or clearance of lesions (residual erythema was allowed) was recorded for 79% and 82% of patients receiving calcitriol or betamethasone dipropionate, respectively. Global improvement and global severity scores at treatment endpoint showed statistically significant differences in favour of betamethasone dipropionate (p<0.05); however, the absolute reduction in mean PASI (psoriasis area and severity index) was comparable between the groups. A statistically significantly (p<0.01) higher proportion of responders remained in remission (no worsening of the disease warranting new treatment) following calcitriol therapy (48%) than betamethasone therapy (25%). This is of potential importance to patients, physicians and healthcare suppliers. CONCLUSION: Twice-daily applications of either calcitriol 3 microg/g ointment or betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% ointment can be used to good effect in the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis. However, the beneficial effect is likely to persist for longer following calcitriol treatment.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To establish the efficacy and duration of remission post-treatment of calcitriol 3 micro g/g ointment in comparison with betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% ointment. METHODS: A randomized, multicentre trial was conducted in 258 adult patients with chronic plaque psoriasis. Calcitriol 3 microg/g ointment or betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% ointment was applied twice daily for 6 weeks or until complete clearance of lesions. Patients whose psoriasis cleared or were significantly improved and did not require treatment continuation at treatment endpoint were contacted over the following 8 weeks to determine whether relapse had occurred. RESULTS: Both treatments were efficacious; improvement in psoriasis or clearance of lesions (residual erythema was allowed) was recorded for 79% and 82% of patients receiving calcitriol or betamethasone dipropionate, respectively. Global improvement and global severity scores at treatment endpoint showed statistically significant differences in favour of betamethasone dipropionate (p<0.05); however, the absolute reduction in mean PASI (psoriasis area and severity index) was comparable between the groups. A statistically significantly (p<0.01) higher proportion of responders remained in remission (no worsening of the disease warranting new treatment) following calcitriol therapy (48%) than betamethasone therapy (25%). This is of potential importance to patients, physicians and healthcare suppliers. CONCLUSION: Twice-daily applications of either calcitriol 3 microg/g ointment or betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% ointment can be used to good effect in the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis. However, the beneficial effect is likely to persist for longer following calcitriol treatment.
Authors: Yanfei Ma; Berket Khalifa; Ying K Yee; Jianfen Lu; Ai Memezawa; Rajesh S Savkur; Yoko Yamamoto; Subba R Chintalacharuvu; Kazuyoshi Yamaoka; Keith R Stayrook; Kelli S Bramlett; Qing Q Zeng; Srinivasan Chandrasekhar; Xiao-Peng Yu; Jared H Linebarger; Stephen J Iturria; Thomas P Burris; Shigeaki Kato; William W Chin; Sunil Nagpal Journal: J Clin Invest Date: 2006-03-09 Impact factor: 14.808
Authors: A Nast; I Kopp; M Augustin; K B Banditt; W H Boehncke; M Follmann; M Friedrich; M Huber; C Kahl; J Klaus; J Koza; I Kreiselmaier; J Mohr; U Mrowietz; H M Ockenfels; H D Orzechowski; J Prinz; K Reich; T Rosenbach; S Rosumeck; M Schlaeger; G Schmid-Ott; M Sebastian; V Streit; T Weberschock; B Rzany Journal: Arch Dermatol Res Date: 2007-05-12 Impact factor: 3.017