title: Vitamin D and topical therapy.
abstract: A sequential therapy regimen involving an initial clearing phase of daily applications of calcipotriene 0.005% ointment and halobetasol 0.05% ointment for 2 weeks, followed by halobetasol applied twice daily on weekends and calcipotriene applied twice daily on weekdays, has been shown to be effective in the management of chronic plaque psoriasis. As a clearing regimen, the combined use of halobetasol and calcipotriene for 2 weeks was superior to monotherapy with either agent. Subsequently, the use of halobetasol on weekends and calcipotriene on weekdays allowed 76% of patients to stay in remission for up to 6 months, compared with 40% of patients who applied halobetasol on weekends only and placebo on weekdays. Calcipotriene can be inactivated when mixed with some topical preparations; however, halobetasol propionate 0.05% ointment and cream have been shown to be compatible with calcipotriene for up to 2 weeks. The compatibility of calcipotriene and halobetasol permits the use of these agents together.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lebwohl
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D002990:Clobetasol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D009824:Ointments; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D009824:Ointments; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; C055085:calcipotriene; C064466:halobetasol; D002990:Clobetasol; D002117:Calcitriol