Calcipotriol solution for the treatment of scalp psoriasis: evaluation of efficacy, safety and acceptance in 3,396 patients.
BACKGROUND
Psoriasis of the scalp is a very common disease, cosmetically disturbing and therapeutically difficult to manage.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study was to investigate the efficacy, safety and cosmetic acceptance of calcipotriol solution in a large number of patients with mild to moderate scalp psoriasis and to compare this treatment with previous therapies used.


METHODS
In this multicentre prospective observational cohort study 3,396 patients were treated with calcipotriol solution (50 microg/ml) twice daily over an 8-week period either alone or in combination with other treatments. The psoriasis scalp severity index (PSSI) and investigator/patient global assessment were used for the evaluation of clinical response.


RESULTS
All psoriasis severity parameters measured were reduced with a significant decrease in PSSI scores from 18.4 to 5.6 after 8 weeks of therapy (p < 0.001). About 80% of the patients showed very good or good clinical improvement. Combination of calcipotriol solution with other treatment modalities e.g. corticosteroids or salicylic acid, showed an increased treatment response. In only 2.4% of the patients side effects occurred (e.g. irritation).


CONCLUSIONS
Calcipotriol solution is an effective, safe, well-tolerated and cosmetically acceptable treatment modality. By patients and physicians, this treatment was found to be a valuable supplement to previously available and established treatments for scalp psoriasis.
Thaçi
D
D
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, J.W. Goethe University Medical School, Frankfurt, Germany. thaci@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Daiber
W
W
Boehncke
W H
WH
Kaufmann
R
R
D000328:Adult; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020156:Salicylic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D012996:Solutions; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D012996:Solutions; C055085:calcipotriene; D002117:Calcitriol; D020156:Salicylic Acid