TOPICAL CALCIPOTRIOL IN CHILDHOOD PSORIASIS

Background: The use of topical calcipotriol in adults with psoriasis i s safe and effective. Objective: Our purpose was to study the efficacy and safety of calcipotriol in children. Methods: A multicenter, prosp ective, 8-week, double-blind, parallel group study was conducted in 77 children. Response to treatment was assessed by means of the Psoriasi s Area and Severity Index (PASI) in that the intensity of redness, thi ckness, and scaliness as well as the area involved are scored. The chi ldren were 2 to 14 years of age and had stable psoriasis, involving le ss than 30% of the body surface. Forty-three children were assigned to receive calcipotriol ointment and 34 to receive placebo. Nine childre n dropped out of the study, six in the calcipotriol-treated group and three in the placebo-treated group.Results: Both treatment groups (cal cipotriol and placebo) showed significant improvement in PASI from bas eline to the end of treatment, and the difference was not statisticall y significant. No serious side effects, in particular including those relating to calcium and bone metabolism, were recorded. Conclusion: Ca lcipotriol ointment was statistically significantly more effective tha n its vehicle in terms of the investigator's overall assessment and re duction in redness and scaliness but not in terms of PASI score.