Clobetasol propionate shampoo 0.05% and calcipotriol solution 0.005%: a randomized comparison of efficacy and safety in subjects with scalp psoriasis.
BACKGROUND
Scalp involvement in psoriatic patients represents a common issue. Treatment of the hairy skin requires adequate pharmaceutical formulations; hence, a new specific shampoo formulation of clobetasol propionate 0.05% was developed by Galderma R&D, Inc.


METHODS
For this multicenter, randomized, investigator-masked, parallel group study, 151 subjects with moderate to severe scalp psoriasis were randomized to 4 weeks of treatment with clobetasol propionate shampoo or calcipotriol solution.


RESULTS
Clobetasol propionate demonstrated significantly superior efficacy to calcipotriol solution (total severity score: mean difference 0.51, 95% CI 0.05-0.97, p = 0.028; global severity score: mean difference 0.43, 95% CI 0.08-0.78, p = 0.016). Adverse events were more common in the calcipotriol group than in the clobetasol propionate shampoo group. Telangiectasia and skin atrophy did not differ significantly between treatments; however, a burning sensation was significantly more common in the calcipotriol solution group.


CONCLUSIONS
Short contact therapy of scalp psoriasis with this new shampoo formulation of clobetasol propionate was significantly more effective and better tolerated than calcipotriol solution for the treatment of scalp psoriasis.
Reygagne
P
P
Centre Sabouraud, Paris, France.
Mrowietz
U
U
Decroix
J
J
de Waard-van der Spek
F B
FB
Acebes
L Olmos
LO
Figueiredo
A
A
Caputo
R
R
Poncet
M
M
Arsonnaud
S
S
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002990:Clobetasol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006203:Hair Preparations; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012996:Solutions; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D006203:Hair Preparations; D012996:Solutions; C055085:calcipotriene; D002990:Clobetasol; D002117:Calcitriol