title: Calcipotriol ointment in nail psoriasis: a controlled double-blind comparison with betamethasone dipropionate and salicylic acid.
abstract: This double-blind randomized study was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of calcipotriol ointment (50 microg/g) with betamethasone dipropionate (64 mg/g) and salicylic acid (0.03 g/g) ointment in the treatment of nail bed psoriasis. Fifty-eight patients applied the given drug to the affected nails twice a day for 3-5 months, depending on clinical response. Efficacy was assessed monthly on the basis of nail thickness, measured in millimetres. Photographs of the treated nails were taken at baseline, and after 3 and 5 months. Tolerability was assessed at 3 and 5 months. In patients with fingernail psoriasis, after 3 months of treatment subungual hyperkeratosis was reduced from 2.3 +/- 0.1 mm (mean +/- SEM) to 1.5 +/- 0.1 mm (-26.5%) in the calcipotriol group and from 2.3 +/- 0.1 mm to 1.6 +/- 0.1 mm (-30.4%) in the betamethasone dipropionate and salicylic acid group [not significant (NS) between treatments, analysis of variance (ANOVA)]. After 5 months, responders showed a 49.2% reduction in hyperkeratosis in the calcipotriol group (from 2.8 +/- 0.1 mm to 1.4 +/- 0.2 mm) and 51.7% (from 2.1 +/- 0.1 mm to 1.0 +/- 0.1 mm) in the betamethasone dipropionate and salicylic acid group (P < 0.001 from baseline, NS between treatments, ANOVA). In patients with toenail psoriasis, after 3 months of treatment there was an overall reduction in hyperkeratosis from 2.6 +/- 0.1 mm to 2.1 +/- 0.1 mm (-20.1%) in the calcipotriol group and from 3.0 +/- 0.1 mm to 2.3 +/- 0.1 mm (-22. 9%) in the betamethasone dipropionate and salicylic acid group (P < 0.001 from baseline, NS between treatments, ANOVA). By the end of the fifth month there was a 40.7% reduction in hyperkeratosis in the calcipotriol group (from 2.1 +/- 0.1 mm to 1.2 +/- 0.1 mm) and 51.9% in the betamethasone dipropionate and salicylic acid group (from 2.7 +/- 0.1 mm to 1.3 +/- 0.1 mm; P < 0.0001 from baseline, NS between treatments, ANOVA). The results of the study show that calcipotriol is as effective as a combination of a topical steroid with salicylic acid in the treatment of nail psoriasis and represents a safe alternative in the topical treatment of nail psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 1, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tosti
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Piraccini
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cameli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kokely
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Plozzer
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Cannata
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009824:Ointments; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012459:Salicylates / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D009824:Ointments; D012459:Salicylates; C055085:calcipotriene; D001623:Betamethasone; D002117:Calcitriol