Topical Betamethasone Valerate and Calcipotriol Ointments for the Therapyof Mild and Moderate Psoriasisvulgaris: A Randomized, Comparative Study

Abstract

To determine the effectiveness of both topically applied Betamethasone valerate and Calcipotriol ointments for the therapy of mild and moderate types of psoriasis. This comparative study was conducted in Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi in the Pharmacology and Therapeutics department of BasicMedical Science Institute (BMSI). In 90 days study, 80 patients of mild and moderate psoriasis vulgaris were placed into A and B groups. The Betamethasone valerate treated patients were placed in group A while Calcipotriol treated patients were placed in group B; 40 patients in each group. The Psoriasis AreaSeverity Index (PASI criterion) was used to observe improvement in psoriatic patients taking these drugs. In this randomized and comparative study, psoriasis severity was checked by Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI). At day 90 Calcipotriol treated group B patients showed more improvement in mean PASI score ascompared to Betamethasone valerate treated group A patients. In PASI score, Calcipotriol shows 71.61% betterment whereas Betamethasone vale rate shows 63.2% betterment in mild psoriatic patients. In PASI score, Calcipotriol shows 69.21% betterment whereas Betamethasone valerate shows 60.44% betterment inmoderate psoriatic patients. In Pakistani population topically applied Calcipotriol ointment was more efficacious in the treatment of mild and moderate types of psoriasisvulgaris when compared to topically applied Betamethasone valerate ointment.