TOPICAL CALCIPOTRIENE HAS NO SHORT-TERM EFFECT ON CALCIUM AND BONE METABOLISM OF PATIENTS WITH PSORIASIS

Background: The biologically active form of vitamin D-3, calcitriol, i s effective in the treatment of psoriasis but can alter calcium metabo lism. Calcipotriene is an analog of calcitriol that has low calcemic a ctivity and aids in clearing psoriasis. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the safety of topical therapy with calcipotrie ne particularly in relation to calcium and bone metabolism. Methods: I n a double-blind, randomized, parallel, vehicle-controlled trial, 78 a dults with plaque psoriasis were treated twice daily with topical calc ipotriene ointment (50 mu g/gm, maximum usage, 120 gm per week) or veh icle for 8 weeks. After a screening visit, patients were admitted to t he hospital at weeks 0 (baseline), 1, 2, 4, and 8. Blood and urine che mistry analysis included parathyroid hormone, serum calcium, bone-spec ific alkaline phosphatase, urinary hydroxyproline, and 24 hour urinary calcium excretion. Bone densitometry measures were performed at basel ine and week 8. Results: No incidences of calcipotriene treatment-rela ted hypercalcemia, calcium mobilization from bone, or clinically signi ficant changes in bone density were noted during this study. Conclusio n: Topical application of up to 120 gm per week of calcipotriene ointm ent for 8 weeks is safe and effective for plaque psoriasis. There were no adverse effects on calcium and bone metabolism during this 8-week study.