Efficacy results of a 52-week, randomised, double-blind, safety study of a calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate two-compound product (Daivobet/Dovobet/Taclonex) in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.
BACKGROUND
The calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate two-compound product is safe and effective in the short-term treatment of psoriasis.


OBJECTIVE
The primary objective was to investigate the safety of two treatment regimens involving use of the two-compound product over 52 weeks. The efficacy results are presented here.


METHODS
Six hundred and thirty-four patients were randomised double-blind to treatment (once daily, when required) with either: 52 weeks of two-compound product (two-compound group), 52 weeks of alternating 4-week periods of two-compound product and calcipotriol (alternating group), or 4 weeks of two-compound product followed by 48 weeks of calcipotriol (calcipotriol group).


RESULTS
There was a trend towards a difference between treatments from the overall treatment effect for the percentage of satisfactory responses for each patient during the study (p = 0.071). This appeared to be due to the comparison of the two-compound and calcipotriol groups (p = 0.025).


CONCLUSIONS
There was a trend towards the efficacy of the two-compound product used for up to 52 weeks being better than that of 4 weeks of the two-compound product followed by 48 weeks of calcipotriol.
Kragballe
K
K
Marselisborg Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Austad
J
J
Barnes
L
L
Bibby
A
A
de la Brassinne
M
M
Cambazard
F
F
Fleming
C
C
Heikkilä
H
H
Williams
Z
Z
Peyri Rey
J
J
Svensson
A
A
Toole
J
J
Wozel
G
G
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012449:Safety; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; C517164:betamethasone dipropionate, calcipotriol drug combination; C055085:calcipotriene; C011175:betamethasone-17,21-dipropionate; D001623:Betamethasone; D002117:Calcitriol