MOMETASONE FUROATE 0.1-PERCENT SALICYLIC-ACID 5-PERCENT OINTMENT TWICE-DAILY VERSUS FLUOCINONIDE 0.05-PERCENT OINTMENT TWICE-DAILY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH PSORIASIS

This study compared the clinical efficacy and safety of the combinatio n agent mometasone furoate 0.1%-salicylic acid 5% ointment with those of the single agent fluocinonide 0.05% ointment, each applied twice da ily for 21 days, in the treatment of patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Forty adult patients were included in this single-ce nter, randomized, double-masked, intraindividual, bilateral-paired com parative trial. Two similar, bilaterally symmetrical target lesions on the trunk, arms, or legs of each patient were selected for treatment and evaluation. One lesion was treated with mometasone furoate 0.1%-sa licylic acid 5% ointment, and the other was treated with fluocinonide 0.05% ointment, both twice daily for 21 days. Treatment was randomly a ssigned to the right or left side of the body. Signs of psoriasis tie, erythema, induration, and scaling) and overall clinical response were evaluated and scored on days 4, 8, 15, and 22 and compared against ba seline. Patients were asked to evaluate the treatments for efficacy an d acceptability at each visit. The primary efficacy parameter was the mean percentage of improvement in total sign scores for the target les ions. Safety was evaluated based on clinical observation and patients' reports. Beginning with day 15, statistically significant differences favoring mometasone furoate 0.1%-salicylic acid 5% ointment over fluo cinonide 0.05% ointment were seen in individual and total sign scores, as well as in overall global clinical response. On day 15, 20 patient s expressed a preference for one treatment over the other, and 20 pati ents made no distinction between the two. Of those who expressed a pre ference, significantly more patients believed mometasone furoate 0.1%- salicylic acid 5% ointment to be better than fluocinonide 0.05% ointme nt. On day 22, of 25 patients who expressed a preference, significantl y more patients thought mometasone furoate 0.1.%-salicylic acid 5% oin tment was better than fluocinonide 0.05% ointment. No adverse events w ere recorded for either treatment group. The combination mometasone fu roate 0.1%-salicylic acid 5% ointment was significantly more efficacio us than and equally as safe as fluocinonide 0.05% ointment in the mana gement of patients with plaque psoriasis and was preferred by a greate r number of patients.