title: Efficacy and local safety of a calcipotriol/ betamethasone dipropionate ointment in elderly patients with psoriasis vulgaris.
abstract: The proportion of elderly patients with psoriasis vulgaris is set to increase in the future due to an ageing population. This descriptive analysis assessed the efficacy and safety of a new ointment containing calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate (Daivobet/Dovobet in a pooled analysis of patients aged 60 years and over. A total of 1534 patients, including 357 aged > or = 60 years, with psoriasis vulgaris received the two-compound ointment once-daily in four randomised, double-blind, studies. After 4 weeks treatment the mean reduction in PASI was 67.8% in patients < 60 years compared with 72.6% in patients > or = 60 years. "Controlled disease" (i.e. a global assessment of "absence of disease" or "very mild disease"), according to the investigators, was achieved by 52.1% of patients < 60 years and 58.2% of patients > or = 60 years. Patients in both age groups reported a similar number of lesional/perilesional adverse drug reactions; 6.4% in patients < 60 years vs 5.0% in patients > or = 60 years. Thus, the new two-compound ointment is effective and well-tolerated in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris, regardless of age group.
authors.affiliation: Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals Trust, Liverpool L69 3BX, England.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parslew
authors.forename: Jette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Traulsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009824:Ointments; C055085:calcipotriene; C011175:betamethasone-17,21-dipropionate; D001623:Betamethasone; D002117:Calcitriol