A two-compound product containing calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate provides rapid, effective treatment of psoriasis vulgaris regardless of baseline disease severity.
BACKGROUND
A two-compound product containing calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate (Daivobet/Dovobet) has been evaluated in a large clinical trial programme, providing a wealth of data on the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of the two-compound product in patients with mild, moderate and severe psoriasis vulgaris.


METHODS
Data from over 1,534 patients with psoriasis vulgaris who received the two-compound product once daily for at least 4 weeks in four randomised, double-blind studies were pooled. A meta-analysis of the pooled data is presented. Severity of psoriasis at baseline was determined by investigator assessment and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score.


RESULTS
For patients with severe disease defined by PASI score (PASI baseline > or = 17), the mean reduction in PASI after up to 4 weeks of treatment was 71.6% compared with 68.9 and 67.2% for those with moderate (PASI baseline 5.1-16.0) and mild disease (PASI baseline < or = 5). Corresponding reductions for investigator-assessed severity were 72.6, 69.1 and 68.7%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the meta-analysis of the data from these four studies was performed post hoc, we may conclude that the two-compound product provided highly effective treatment of psoriasis, regardless of the category of baseline disease severity.
van de Kerkhof
P C M
PC
University Hospital Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. p.vandekerkhof@derma.umcn.nl
Wasel
N
N
Kragballe
K
K
Cambazard
F
F
Murray
S
S
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004338:Drug Combinations; C055085:calcipotriene; C011175:betamethasone-17,21-dipropionate; D001623:Betamethasone; D002117:Calcitriol