Betamethasone valerate foam for treatment of nonscalp psoriasis.
BACKGROUND
Although betamethasone valerate (BMV) foam, 0.12% (Luxiq, Connectics Corporation, Palo Alto, CA) is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of corticosteroid-responsive scalp dermatoses, no data are available for its use on nonscalp psoriasis.


OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the safety and efficacy of BMV foam in treating psoriatic lesions at nonscalp sites.


METHODS
We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, paired-comparison, split-body study of 40 patients with mild to moderate plaque-type psoriasis. Patients applied BMV foam and placebo foam twice daily for 12 weeks.


RESULTS
At the end of the treatment period, 70% of patients had greater than 50% improvement of lesions on their active foam-treated side compared with 24% of patients with similar improvement on their placebo foam-treated side. Adverse effects were limited to temporary stinging, burning, or itching in several patients. Three patients (7.5%) withdrew because of stinging or itching.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that BMV foam is effective against nonscalp psoriasis. Twice-daily applications are well tolerated, compliance exceeds 90%, cosmetic characteristics are acceptable, and the medication may reduce the need for multiple prescriptions.
Stein
L F
LF
Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Hospital, 6777 Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322, USA. lstein1@hfhs.org
Sherr
A
A
Solodkina
G
G
Gottlieb
A B
AB
Chaudhari
U
U
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001624:Betamethasone Valerate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010919:Placebos; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D010919:Placebos; D001624:Betamethasone Valerate