Abstract
Psoriasis vulgaris (PS), a chronic relapsing skin disease, has a significant impact on patients' quality of life (QOL). We wished to study the potential efficacy and safety of topical combination therapy with calcipotriol and corticosteroid ointments in the treatment of skin lesions in PS patients with a PASI score and VAS. We also examined the impact of this therapy on the QOL in PS patients by using generic (SF-36) and disease-specific (DLQI-based) health-related questionnaires. This pilot study was an open-label trial that included 17 PS patients. All patients were initially treated for a two to four-week period with concurrent application of calcipotriol ointment and clobetasol propionate ointment twice a day. Following this initial treatment protocol, patients were treated with calcipotriol ointment alone during weekdays and concurrent applications of both ointments on weekends only for an additional two to four weeks. Afterwards, patients were treated with calcipotriol ointment alone for another four to eight weeks. After completing this combination therapy regimen for twelve weeks, the PASI score significantly improved from 24.6 to 2.2 (a 91% reduction, p<0.001). The severity of skin lesions measured by VAS also decreased significantly. On the DLQI-based health-related questionnaires, the mean total score significantly improved from 8.8 to 2.8 after completion of the combination therapy (p<0.001). Marked improvement was observed especially in the area of “symptoms and feelings”. On the SF-36survey, the QOL scores were also significantly improved after completion of the combination therapy in terms of “vitality” and “mental health” (p=0.037 and 0.022, respectively). No serious side effects, including increased serum Ca level, were observed. This study indicates that topical combination therapy with calcipotriol and corticosteroid ointments in the treatment of PS is not only effective and safe, but also improves the QOL in PS patients, especially in terms of patients' psychological well-being.
