title: Calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate: a review of its use in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.
abstract: The two-compound product containing calcipotriol 50 microg/g plus betamethasone dipropionate 0.5 mg/g (Dovobet, Daivobet) [referred to here as calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate], is a topical treatment for psoriasis vulgaris, combining a vitamin D analog and a corticosteroid. For most adult patients with psoriasis vulgaris on the trunk and limbs, up to 4 weeks of therapy with calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate provides an effective and well tolerated treatment. In clinical trials, patients with a mean baseline psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) of 9.5-10.9 experienced a mean 65.0-74.4% PASI improvement within 4 weeks, significantly better than improvements with calcipotriol 50 microg/g monotherapy, betamethasone dipropionate 0.5 mg/g monotherapy, or placebo. In addition, in 6.4%-20.1% of patients, lesions cleared. In patients who were subsequently treated with calcipotriol maintenance therapy, benefits were retained for at least 4 weeks. The safety of calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate in patients treated for up to 1 year was generally good; fewer than 5% of patients experienced adverse events possibly associated with long-term corticosteroid use.
authors.affiliation: Adis International Limited, Yardley, Pennsylvania 19067, USA. demail@adis.com
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fenton
authors.forename: Greg L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Plosker
mesh_terms: D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; C055085:calcipotriene; C011175:betamethasone-17,21-dipropionate; D001623:Betamethasone; D002117:Calcitriol