title: Efficacy and safety of twice-daily augmented betamethasone dipropionate lotion versus clobetasol propionate solution in patients with moderate-to-severe scalp psoriasis.
abstract: This 2-week, randomized, multicenter, investigator-blinded, parallel-group study was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of augmented betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% lotion and clobetasol propionate 0.05% solution in the treatment of moderate-to-severe scalp psoriasis among 197 (193 assessable) healthy adult patients with at least 20% scalp-surface involvement. The patients received one of two treatments applied twice a day for 2 weeks. Signs and symptoms were evaluated at baseline, after 3 days (day 4), and after weeks 1 (day 8) and 2 (day 15) of treatment. As early as 3 days after treatment, scaling and induration were improved significantly faster by betamethasone dipropionate than by clobetasol propionate. Both treatments also reduced erythema and pruritus. Patients receiving betamethasone dipropionate had a significantly greater mean percent improvement in total sign/symptom scores (P < or = 0.015) at all visits and better mean global clinical response scores at the early visits (days 4 and 8) (P < or = 0.017). At the end of the study, only mild disease was present in both groups. Adverse events were reported by 34.0% and 36.4% of patients receiving betamethasone dipropionate and clobetasol propionate, respectively. All events were transient, most were mild and local, and no discontinuations resulted. The effects of treatment on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis were not measured. In conclusion, augmented betamethasone dipropionate lotion and clobetasol propionate solution were equally effective, but betamethasone dipropionate lotion provided a faster onset of relief for scaling and induration, which may enhance patient compliance and patient satisfaction with treatment.
authors.affiliation: Minnesota Clinical Study Center, Fridley, USA.
authors.forename: H I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lindholm
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Shavin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morman
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bressinck
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cornell
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Pariser
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Pariser
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Weng
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002990:Clobetasol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; C011175:betamethasone-17,21-dipropionate; D001623:Betamethasone; D002990:Clobetasol