title: Efficacy of adding topical simvastatin to topical calcipotriol on improvement of cutaneous plaque psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psoriasis is a common dermatologic disorder, with fluctuating response to treatment. Considering the proven immunomodulatory effects of oral simvastatin in psoriasis, this trial study was enrolled to determine whether the topical form has also antipsoriatic effects. Vitamin D analogs known to be effective and are considered the first line of therapy in mild to moderate cases. In this study, the efficacy of topical calcipotriol 0.005% ointment (as a standard method of treatment for psoriasis) versus combination of calcipotriol plus topical simvastatin is compared in the treatment of psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 80 subjects with symmetric psoriasis who had body surface involvement up to 20% were divided randomly into 2 groups. Group A were treated with calcipotriol 0.005% ointment twice daily and Group B with calcipotriol 0.005% ointment twice daily and simvastatin 3% ointment twice daily for 12 weeks. The results were evaluated by a Blind Dermatologist using psoriasis area severity index (PASI) score at baseline, 4(th), 8(th) and 12(th) week of treatment. In a similar way, a subjective assessment performed by patients based on photo-evaluation at the end of the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite a continuous reduction in PASI score in both groups, according to both physician (P = 0.603) and patient (P = 0.243) assessment topical simvastatin was not statistically more effective than conventional treatment of psoriasis at the end of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that topical simvastatin is not associated with significant impacts in the treatment of psoriasis as compared to oral form. This study indicates that psoriasis is a systemic disorder with variable skin manifestations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Centre, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Fariba
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iraji
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Centre, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Nabet
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tajmirriahi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Centre, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir Hossein
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Siadat
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Centre, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Iman
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Momeni
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Centre, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nilforoushzadeh
keywords: Calcipotriol; psoriasis; simvastatin