Source: Neurotoxicology  |  Posted 9 years ago

The combination of calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate for treatment of psoriasis is faster and more effective than using either medication alone, say researchers.

Both treatments act differently in the management of psoriasis, but there was some uncertainty regarding the risks and benefits from their combined use.

Consequently, researchers at Probity Medical Research in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, designed a new vehicle to establish optimal stability of combined calcipotriene 50microg/g and bethametasone dipropionate 0.5mg/g.

A total of 1,028 patients with psoriasis vulgaris were selected as participants in an international, multi-centre, prospective, randomised, double-blind parallel group for a four-week study. All had proven responsive to topical therapy.

Patients were sub-divided into four groups: 301 in the combination group, 308 in the calcipotriene group, and 312 in the betamethasone dipropionate group. The fourth group (107) used the new vehicle alone.

The researchers determined the mean reduction of Psoriasis Area Sensitive to Index (PASI) from the baseline to conclusion of treatment, was 73.2% in the combination group, 48.8% in the calcipotriene group, 63.1% in the betamethasone dipropionate patients, and 28.8% in those using the new vehicle.

During the first week of therapy the mean percentage reduction was 48.1%, 28.4%, 41.4% and 21.5%, respectively.