Characterization and comparison of efficacy and safety of calcipotriene and clobetasol in severe chronic plaque psoriasis patients

Abstract

Calcipotriene and Clobetasol ointments efficiently treat psoriasis. The purpose of the study was to characterize and compare the efficacy and safety of Calcipotriene and Clobetasol in chronic plaque psoriasis patients. 70 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis were recruited and randomly divided into two groups of 35 each. One group received 0.005% Calcipotriene, and the other group received 0.05% clobetasol twice daily for 12 weeks. Efficacy evaluations comprise global improvement assessed by the clinician by using the Physician Global Assessment (PGA) score. Efficacy further included the 'Dermatological Sum Score' (DSS) and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score at each study visit. The safety evaluations included clinical assessment of cutaneous safety and assessment of cutaneous discomfort by the clinician as well as the subject. Calcipotriene and Clobetasol were significantly effective in reducing PASI and DSS. However, the two experimental groups have shown no statistically significant observations. The PGA score assessed clinically was 1.27 for calcitriene and 1.79 for Clobetasol (p>0.05). The cutaneous safety score was higher in the clobetasol group compared to the Calcipotriene group. 4% of cutaneous discomfort was reported with Clobetasol compared to 2% with Calcipotriene. Calcipotriene showed a better safety profile than Clobetasol.