title: Effective treatment and improvement of quality of life in patients with scalp psoriasis by topical use of calcipotriol/betamethasone (Xamiol®-gel): results.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Quality of life of patients with scalp psoriasis is greatly impaired due to itch and scaling. To control the disease long-term therapy is necessary and treatment success is greatly dependent on compliance.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective, non-interventional trial in German dermatological practices 721 patients with scalp psoriasis received Xamiol(®) gel (calcipotriol 50 μg/g, betamethasone 0,5 mg/g) topically for 4 weeks. Severity was assessed by physician's global assessment (PGA) and quality of life by using a scalp-specific questionnaire at the beginning of the study and after 4 weeks of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean disease severity of scalp psoriasis (PGA) improved from 4.26 to 2.49 (-41.8 %, p < 0.0001) during 4 weeks of treatment and quality of life improved from 10.57 to 3.22 (-69.5 %, p < 0.0001). Among patients with pre-treatment 89.5 % of patients and 87.9 % of dermatologists judged treatment response to Xamiol(®) gel as better/much better compared to previous therapy. Tolerability of Xamiol(®) gel was rated good/very good by 98 % of dermatologists and patients, respectively. The use of Xamiol(®) gel was found easy/very easy by 90.4 % of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to the major improvement of quality of life and quick onset of improvement together with the high acceptance by the patients Xamiol(®) gel may be regarded as the topical treatment of choice for scalp psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Psoriasis Center, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergy, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Germany. umrowietz@dermatology.uni-kiel.de
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mrowietz
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Macheleidt
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eicke
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; C055085:calcipotriene; D001623:Betamethasone; D002117:Calcitriol