title: Efficacy and maintenance strategies of two-compound formulation calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate gel (Xamiol® gel) in the treatment of scalp psoriasis: results from a study in 885 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies showed the efficacy of a formulation containing calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate for the treatment of psoriasis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate maintenance strategies of a formulation containing calcipotriol (50 µg/g) and betamethasone dipropionate (0.5 mg/g) for the treatment of scalp psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine-hundred and four patients were screened and randomised on a 1:1 basis in two groups: maintenance of two applications per week (group A) versus on-demand therapy (group B). Clinical evaluation was performed at weeks 0, 2, 4, 8 and 12.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight-hundred and eighty-five patients were randomised: 441 in group A and 444 in group B. From week 2, both groups showed a significant clinical improvement compared with baseline; at weeks 8 and 12, group A demonstrated a higher clinical response compared with group B (p < 0.05). This difference was statistically significant (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.37, 0.60).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The maintenance of twice-weekly application versus on-demand treatment of calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate gel is more effective and is associated with a lower rate of relapse.
authors.affiliation: U.O.C. Dermatologia, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata' - PTV, Viale Oxford, 81, 00133 Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Rosita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saraceno
authors.forename: Germana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Camplone
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Agostino
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Simone
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Cesare
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Filosa
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Frascione
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gabellini
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lunghi
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzotta
authors.forename: Ketty
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peris
authors.forename: Genoveffa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scotto Di Luzio
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Calvieri
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simonacci
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chimenti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005782:Gels; C517164:betamethasone dipropionate, calcipotriol drug combination; C055085:calcipotriene; C011175:betamethasone-17,21-dipropionate; D001623:Betamethasone; D002117:Calcitriol