Mometasone furoate 0.1%-salicylic acid 5% ointment versus mometasone furoate 0.1% ointment in the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis: a multicenter study.

Topical corticosteroids and keratolytics are both used widely in the management of patients with psoriasis. A combination of the two types of agents may provide enhanced relief. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of the combination ointment mometasone furoate 0.1% plus salicylic acid 5% with that of mometasone furoate 0.1% ointment in the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis vulgaris. A total of 408 patients were enrolled in this controlled, randomized, double-masked, parallel-group, multicenter comparison. Patients applied either mometasone furoate-salicylic acid ointment or mometasone furoate ointment alone to target lesions twice daily for 21 days. Severity of erythema, induration, and scaling were scored at baseline and at days 4, 8, 15, and 22. An evaluation of overall change in disease status of all treated lesions was performed at each follow-up visit. Adverse events were also monitored and scored, including signs of skin atrophy. Beginning on day 8, the combination of mometasone furoate-salicylic acid was significantly more effective than mometasone furoate alone, as indicated by the mean percentage of improvement in total disease scores, mean total disease sign scores, and the individual score for scaling. Similarly, the combination was more effective beginning on day 15, as indicated by the global evaluation of overall clinical response and individual scores for erythema and induration. Both treatments were well tolerated. Mometasone furoate-salicylic acid ointment provides more effective treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis than does mometasone furoate ointment alone and is safe and well tolerated.

Efficacy and safety of twice-daily augmented betamethasone dipropionate lotion versus clobetasol propionate solution in patients with moderate-to-severe scalp psoriasis.

This 2-week, randomized, multicenter, investigator-blinded, parallel-group study was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of augmented betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% lotion and clobetasol propionate 0.05% solution in the treatment of moderate-to-severe scalp psoriasis among 197 (193 assessable) healthy adult patients with at least 20% scalp-surface involvement. The patients received one of two treatments applied twice a day for 2 weeks. Signs and symptoms were evaluated at baseline, after 3 days (day 4), and after weeks 1 (day 8) and 2 (day 15) of treatment. As early as 3 days after treatment, scaling and induration were improved significantly faster by betamethasone dipropionate than by clobetasol propionate. Both treatments also reduced erythema and pruritus. Patients receiving betamethasone dipropionate had a significantly greater mean percent improvement in total sign/symptom scores (P < or = 0.015) at all visits and better mean global clinical response scores at the early visits (days 4 and 8) (P < or = 0.017). At the end of the study, only mild disease was present in both groups. Adverse events were reported by 34.0% and 36.4% of patients receiving betamethasone dipropionate and clobetasol propionate, respectively. All events were transient, most were mild and local, and no discontinuations resulted. The effects of treatment on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis were not measured. In conclusion, augmented betamethasone dipropionate lotion and clobetasol propionate solution were equally effective, but betamethasone dipropionate lotion provided a faster onset of relief for scaling and induration, which may enhance patient compliance and patient satisfaction with treatment.

Mometasone furoate ointment and cream 0.1 percent in treatment of psoriasis: comparison with ointment and cream formulations of fluocinolone acetonide 0.025 percent and triamcinolone acetonide 0.1 percent.

Mometasone furoate (Elocon) is a newly formulated and unique medium-potency synthetic 17-heterocyclic corticosteroid. The efficacy and safety of the ointment and cream formulations (0.1 percent) of the corticosteroid, administered once daily, were compared with those of the ointment and cream formulations of fluocinolone acetonide 0.025 percent administered three times daily and triamcinolone acetonide 0.1 percent administered twice daily in four multicenter clinical studies. They were conducted involving psoriasis patients with chronic and moderate to severe disease. Evaluation of change in disease sign scores indicated that mometasone ointment, applied once daily, was significantly more effective (P less than 0.01) than fluocinolone ointment, applied three times daily, and triamcinolone ointment, applied twice daily. The cream formulation of mometasone was significantly more effective (p less than 0.001) than fluocinolone cream, applied three times daily, and equivalent to triamcinolone cream, applied twice daily. The incidence of local adverse experiences following treatment with the ointment or cream formulations of mometasone was minimal. Mometasone ointment and cream provide a highly effective once-a-day treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis with minimal risk of side effects.