Treatment of psoriasis with a new combination of calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate: A flow cytometric study

Background. Calcipotriol and corticosteroids are established topical antips oriatics. Previous studies have shown that combined therapy with calcipotri ol and betamethasone dipropionate was more effective than monotherapy. In t he present study, a recently developed combination product of calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate was compared with both monotherapies and the vehicle. Methods: Twenty-five psoriatic patients were treated twice daily with the combination product, monotherapy or vehicle during 4 weeks. Skin b iopsies, taken before and after treatment, were analysed using a multi-para meter flow cytometric method. Parameters of inflammation (vimentin-positive cells), normal differentiation (keratin-10-positive cells) and proliferati on (cells in SG(2)M-phase) were assessed. Results: Flow cytometric analysis showed that the combination product turned out to be more effective in red ucing inflammation compared with the other treatments. Restoration of norma l differentiation was more advanced in patients treated with the combinatio n product or betamethasone dipropionate compared to the vehicle. The highes t number of normally differentiated cells was seen after use of the combina tion product. All treatments, except for the vehicle, decreased hyperprolif eration. Conclusion:This study shows that the combination product is a valu able new approach to the treatment of psoriasis. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karg er AG, Basel.