Comparison of the efficacy of calcipotriol and maxacalcitol in combination with narrow-band ultraviolet B therapy for the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.
BACKGROUND
Combination treatment with topical vitamin D(3) and narrow-band ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation is effective against psoriasis vulgaris. We compared the efficacy of the topical vitamin D(3) derivatives calcipotriol and maxacalcitol in combination therapy.


METHODS
In this retrospective observational study, 21 patients admitted to Nagoya City University Hospital between April 2001 and September 2004 were enrolled.


RESULTS
Combination treatment with calcipotriol or maxacalcitol and narrow-band UVB was effective against psoriasis vulgaris. Calcipotriol induced a more rapid improvement and required lower levels of narrow-band UVB irradiation to be effective. Serum calcium levels were slightly increased after 4 weeks of treatment, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. No other adverse effects were observed in either of the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this retrospective observational study indicated that combination treatment with topical vitamin D(3) derivatives and narrow-band UVB is effective against psoriasis without any obvious side-effects. These findings provide further evidence that calcipotriol has advantages over maxacalcitol regarding the narrow-band UVB-accumulated treatment dose and improvement rate of psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) scores.
Noborio
Reiko
R
Department of Geriatric and Environmental Dermatology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
Kobayashi
Keiko
K
Shintani
Yoichi
Y
Morita
Akimichi
A
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; C055085:calcipotriene; D002117:Calcitriol; C051883:maxacalcitol