THERAPEUTICAL NOTES   

Giornale Italiano di Dermatologia e Venereologia 2011 August;146(4):295-9

Copyright © 2011 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

The separate daily application of tacalcitol 4 µg/g ointment and budesonide 0.25 mg/g cream is more effective than the single daily application of a two compound ointment containing calcipotriol 50 µg/g and betamethasone dipropionate 0.5 mg/g

Calzavara-Pinton P., Rossi M. T., Sala R., Venturini M. ✉

Department of Dermatology, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy

AIM:This pilot randomized intra-patient side to side trial was designed to assess the antipsoriatic efficacy, safety and tolerability of once daily versus the separate application of a vitamin D3 analogue and a powerful corticosteroid.
METHODS:Twenty patients with plaque type psoriasis were enrolled. Two similar symmetrical lesions were randomized to be treated with an application of an ointment containing calcipotriol 50 µg/g plus betamethasone dipropionate 0.5 mg/g once daily or the application of budesonide 0.25 mg/g cream in the morning and tacalcitol 4 µg/g ointment in the evening.
RESULTS:Eighteen patients completed the study. Both treatments proved to be effective but budesonide cream and tacalcitol ointment gave a faster improvement of lesions and itching relief at t1 and were better tolerated.
CONCLUSION:The separate daily regimen may represent a suitable treatment option for patients who need a faster improvement and a better moisturizing activity. Further studies which compare the efficacy and safety of these regimens need to be developed.