ABSTRACT
Background: Topical calcitriol and calcipotriol, the two vitamin D derivatives although considered efficient in treating psoriasis, their comparative studies are relatively scanty. The objective of the present study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of calcitriol and calcipotriol in stable chronic plaque-type psoriasis.Methods: Total 50 patients of chronic stable plaque-type psoriasis were randomly divided into two groups of 25 each. One group received calcitriol 3礸/g ointment and the other group received calcipotriol 50礸/g ointment twice daily for 12 weeks. Efficacy evaluations comprised global improvement (on a 4-point scale from 0: no change, to 3: clear or almost clear) assessed clinically and by the subject. Efficacy further included the 慸ermatological sum score� (DSS) at each study visit. Safety evaluations (on a 5-point scale from 0: none, to 4: very severe) included clinical assessment of cutaneous safety and assessment of cutaneous discomfort by the subject.Results: Both calcitriol and calcipotriol were significantly effective (p <0.001) in reduction of DSS but the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. Mean score of global improvement assessed clinically was 2.20 for calcitriol and 2.16 for calcipotriol (p >0.05) and by the subject was 1.92 for calcitriol and 1.84 for calcipotriol (p >0.05). The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. The mean worst score for cutaneous safety was higher in calcipotriol group compared to calcitriol group (0.28 vs 0.04 and 0.36 vs 0.04 by clinically and by the subject, respectively). Statistically significant better safety profile (p <0.05) was seen for calcitriol, only when assessed by the subject. 24% treatment related adverse events were reported with calcipotriol against only 4% with calcitriol.Conclusions: Topical calcitriol and calcipotriol showed similar efficacy in the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis while calcitriol showed better safety profile in comparison with calcipotriol, in terms of local tolerance and induced less treatment related adverse events.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Turmeric demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties in laboratory and clinical studies that suggest its usefulness in psoriasis. This is the first randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy and safety of turmeric 1% cream to clobetasol propionate 0.05% cream in the treatment of plaque-type psoriasis.@*Objectives@#To determine the efficacy and safety of turmeric 1% cream versus that of clobetasol propionate 0.05% cream in the treatment of plaque-type psoriasis.@*Methods@#This was a randomized, double-blind clinical trial to determine the proportion of patients with clinical remission. Secondary outcomes namely mean PASI and pruritus scores per visit, time to remission and incidence of adverse effects were also determined.@*Results@#Fifty-nine patients were randomized into two groups: a turmeric (n=30) and a clobetasol (n=29) group. After four weeks of treatment, there was no significant difference (p=0.36) in the proportions of patients with clinical remission in the turmeric group (5/20, 25%) and the clobetasol group (8/23, 35%) (RR 1.15, 95% CI 0.78-1.70). The average time to achieve clinical remission was 4 weeks in the turmeric group and 3.38 ± 1.06 weeks in the clobetasol group (p=0.07). There was no significant difference in post-treatment mean PASI scores in turmeric (8.77 ± 5.71) and clobetasol (7.26 ± 6.04) groups (p=0.40). Post-treatment mean pruritus scores in turmeric (6.9 ± 2.83) and clobetasol (5.83 ± 3.87) groups (p=0.30) were also statistically comparable. Two patients in the clobetasol group developed folliculitis.@*Conclusion@#Turmeric 1% cream demonstrated comparable efficacy and safety with clobetasol 0.05% cream in the treatment of mild to moderate plaque-type psoriasis.