title: [Treatment of psoriasis by oral calcitriol. A study of 5 cases and review of the literature].
abstract: Vitamin D topical analogues are now considered an excellent adjunct to the therapy of psoriasis. Systemic vitamin D3 treatment has been used occasionally, especially in case of associated hypocalcemia. We report five patients (aged 6, 16, 36, 58 and 79 years) successfully treated with vitamin D3 per os. Four had erythrodermic and/or pustulous psoriasis, and two of these had concomitant hypocalcemia. The fifth patient was a girl with pseudohypoparathyroidism and psoriasis vulgaris. The association of hypocalcemia and severe psoriasis is classical and was an incentive to try vitamin D treatment. A review of the literature showed that vitamin D can also be reported as a treatment of psoriasis vulgaris. Hypercalciuria and hypercalcemia are limiting risks. However calcium toxicity seems to be minor when vitamin D is given once a day at bedtime in doses lower than 2 micrograms/24 h. Double blind studies should be performed to determine the real efficacy of this treatment.
authors.affiliation: Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital Pellegrin-Enfants, Bordeaux.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Boisseau-Garsaud
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Legrain
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hehunstre
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maleville
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taïeb
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000150:complications; D007011:Hypoparathyroidism / Q000150:complications; D007015:Hypophosphatemia, Familial / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D002117:Calcitriol
vernacular_title: Traitement du psoriasis par le calcitriol per os. Etude de cinq observations et revue de la littérature.