title: The impact of topical calcipotriol and betamethasone on human beta-defensin 2 expression and serum level in psoriatic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As defensins are dysregulated in psoriasis, the present work is aimed at the assessment of the impact of topical betamethasone with and without calcipotriol on human beta-defensin 2 (hBD-2) expression and serum level in a cohort Egyptian psoriatic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A biopsy was performed at the site of psoriatic plaque for all patients participating in the study before application of any treatment. The first group of patients (n = 25) used an ointment containing a combination of calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate for 4 weeks while the second group (n = 25) used an ointment containing betamethasone valerate for the same period. For all patients, human beta defensin-2 expression and serum level was assayed before and after either treatment course.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant difference way detected between both groups as regards PASI score, hBD-2 expression or serum level before application of either treatment regimen, while those who used the combined regimen showed lower expression and serum level of hBD-2 associated with lower PASI score on comparison with those who followed the mono-therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psoriasis treatment using the combined calcipotriol and betamethasone therapy is superior in effect to monotherapy using betamethasone alone. In addition, serum hBD-2 might be a useful marker for disease activity in psoriasis that can help assess the patient's clinical condition.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abdelmaksood
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hashad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023082:Defensins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D023082:Defensins; C055085:calcipotriene; D001623:Betamethasone; D002117:Calcitriol