title: The role of vitamin D in psoriasis: a review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Psoriasis is a common, chronic autoimmune inflammatory skin disorder, which has potential systemic complications and is clinically defined by sharply demarcated, erythematous patches and plaques covered by a characteristic silvery white scale. Topical corticosteroids have widely been regarded as the mainstay first line of treatment. Recently, topical vitamin D analogs have been added to the first-line treatment repertoire as well, either as monotherapy or in combination with topical steroids due to synergistic, complementary effectiveness. In this paper, we review the role of vitamin D in the pathophysiology and treatment of psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive search of the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and PUBMED databases were performed to identify relevant basic science and clinical trial literature investigating the role of vitamin D in psoriasis. Primary endpoints in clinical trials were largely based on clinical improvement as assessed by the psoriasis area severity index score or physician's global assessment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The role of vitamin D in psoriasis is complex and extensive. Oral and topical vitamin D therapies provide comparable efficacies to corticosteroids when used as monotherapy and may be superior when used in combination with a potent topical steroid. Additionally topical vitamin D analogs demonstrate a favorable safety profile with "steroid-sparing" effects. Thus, topical vitamin D derivatives should be considered an indispensable component of the current physician's arsenal in the treatment of psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Teo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Soleymani
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Soung
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D