title: The hair root pattern after calcipotriol treatment for scalp psoriasis.
abstract: Scalp psoriasis is associated with hair loss and an increased telogen/anagen ratio. Topical treatment of scalp psoriasis (with corticosteroids, dithranol or tar) results in decreased scaling, induration and erythema of the plaques. Calcipotriol is effective in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris. However, the potent growth-inhibiting potential of this compound might theoretically induce hair loss. A study was designed to find out to what extent calcipotriol treatment modulates the percentage of anagen and telogen hair during treatment of scalp psoriasis. A group of 26 patients participated in a placebo-controlled dose-finding study on the efficacy of calcipotriol in scalp psoriasis. Hair plucks before and after treatment were taken. The telogen/anagen ratio remained unaffected during 6 weeks of calcipotriol treatment. No correlation was demonstrated between efficacy of treatment and quantification of telogen/anagen ratio. It can be concluded that the growth-inhibiting potential of calcipotriol is not reflected in the in vivo hair growth pattern during calcipotriol treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Kuijpers
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: van Baar
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: van Gasselt
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: van de Kerkhof
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006197:Hair / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D005782:Gels; D010919:Placebos; C055085:calcipotriene; D002117:Calcitriol