Nonpsoriatic uses of calcipotriol.
BACKGROUND
Calcipotriol is a synthetic vitamin D3 analog that binds to vitamin D receptors in epidermal cells. In vitro studies have shown that calcipotriol stimulates terminal cell differentiation and has antiproliferative effects. In vivo, calcipotriol has been shown to reduce the number of cycling epidermal cells. Calcipotriol also has less effect on calcium metabolism than calcitriol, which is the natural, bioactive, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.


OBJECTIVE
These properties make calcipotriol an ideal candidate for the topical treatment of hyperproliferative skin disorders. While it has been approved for topical use in psoriasis, its potential for use in other dermatological disorders has not yet been fully investigated.


CONCLUSIONS
This survey of the literature suggests that calcipotriol may show promise in the treatment of other conditions involving abnormal keratinization and hyperproliferation of epidermal cells. While some of these disorders are rare, and therefore difficult to study, further study into the nonpsoriatic uses of calcipotriol may be rewarding.
Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Center, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. agupta@execulink.com
Aditya K
AK
Gupta
Melanie
M
Browne
Robyn
R
Bluhm
D002117:Calcitriol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D012873:Skin Diseases, Genetic / Q000188:drug therapy
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; C055085:calcipotriene; D002117:Calcitriol