Calcium homeostasis remains unaffected after 12 weeks' therapy with calcitriol 3 microg/g ointment; no correlation with extent of psoriasis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the systemic safety of calcitriol 3 microg/g ointment (Silkis) ointment) in relation to body surface area (BSA) affected by chronic plaque psoriasis.


METHODS
In this open-label, multicentre study, patients were divided into three parallel groups: 5% to <15% (n=23), 15% to <25% (n=18), 25% to 35% (n=18) based on BSA involvement. Ointment was applied topically twice daily for 12 weeks; patients were followed up for a further 8 weeks.


RESULTS
There was no alteration of calcium homeostasis: the mean values of albumin-adjusted serum total calcium, as well as 24-hour urinary calcium and serum calcitriol levels, remained within normal ranges throughout treatment. No changes in calcium or phosphate homeostasis related to the area of psoriasis being treated with calcitriol ointment were detected.


CONCLUSIONS
Reductions in the global severity score and BSA involvement, as well as results of the assessment of improvement, attested to the clinical efficacy of calcitriol 3 microg/g ointment in psoriasis. The study confirms the systemic safety of calcitriol 3 microg/g in psoriatic patients with 5-35% BSA involvement.
St John's Institute of Dermatology, St Thomas' Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7EH, UK. jonathan.barker@kcl.ac.uk
J N W N
JN
Barker
J
J
Berth-Jones
R
R
Groves
A D
AD
Omerod
E
E
Rizova
C E M
CE
Griffiths
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009824:Ointments; D012709:Serum Albumin; D002117:Calcitriol; D002118:Calcium