Vitamin D Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Vitamin D, including details on sources, melanin, benefits, deficiency, supplements, calcium absorption. | ||||||||
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A two-compound product containing calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate provides rapid, effective treatment of psoriasis vulgaris regardless of baseline disease severity.van de Kerkhof PC, Wasel N, Kragballe K, Cambazard F, Murray S University Hospital Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. p.vandekerkhof@derma.umcn.nl BACKGROUND: A two-compound product containing calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate (Daivobet/Dovobet) has been evaluated in a large clinical trial programme, providing a wealth of data on the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of the two-compound product in patients with mild, moderate and severe psoriasis vulgaris. METHODS: Data from over 1,534 patients with psoriasis vulgaris who received the two-compound product once daily for at least 4 weeks in four randomised, double-blind studies were pooled. A meta-analysis of the pooled data is presented. Severity of psoriasis at baseline was determined by investigator assessment and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score. RESULTS: For patients with severe disease defined by PASI score (PASI baseline > or = 17), the mean reduction in PASI after up to 4 weeks of treatment was 71.6% compared with 68.9 and 67.2% for those with moderate (PASI baseline 5.1-16.0) and mild disease (PASI baseline < or = 5). Corresponding reductions for investigator-assessed severity were 72.6, 69.1 and 68.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although the meta-analysis of the data from these four studies was performed post hoc, we may conclude that the two-compound product provided highly effective treatment of psoriasis, regardless of the category of baseline disease severity. Published 8 June 2005 in Dermatology, 210(4): 294-9.
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