Clinical experience with topical calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3) inpsoriasis

The use of vitamin D analogues for the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasi s is well documented. Of importance now is their comparability and compatib ility with other established treatments for psoriasis. This paper reviews f ive studies with calcitriol 3 mug g(-1) ointment (Silkis ointment(R), Galde rma Laboratories). Calcitriol applied twice daily was found to be as effect ive as short-contact dithranol in terms of global improvement and PASI scor es, However, patients favoured calcitriol over dithranol when both quality of life and treatment acceptability were assessed. Two studies provide evid ence of the benefit of combining calcitriol with other antipsoriatic therap ies. Combination with ultraviolet (UV) B phototherapy proved as effective a s UVB alone over an 8-week period; however, the combination had a radiation dose-sparing effect, thus reducing the risk of adverse events. Likewise, c alcitriol combined with betamethasone valerate (each applied separately, on ce daily) was as efficacious as twice-daily betamethasone, thereby achievin g a corticosteroid-sparing effect. Finally, two studies confirm that calcit riol 3 mug g(-1) ointment can be used safely in patients with psoriasis of the head and confirm the high level of clinical efficacy achieved with this compound.