Current Experience with Tacalcitol Ointment in the Treatment of Psoriasis

Summary

Various controlled studies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of tacalcitol ointment (4µg/g) in the treatment of psoriasis. Further data are now available from a multicentre post-marketing surveillance study involving more than 5000 outpatients.

Once-daily treatment with tacalcitol resulted in a marked decrease of mean sumscore (erythema, infiltration, scaling) from 6.3 to 2.7 scorepoints in an average period of 61 days. Efficacy was assessed by dermatologists as ‘very good’ or ‘good’ in 71 % of the patients.

Local tolerance was stated to be ‘very good’ or ‘good’ in 94% of the patients. Only 1 % of the patients experienced skin irritation. No case ofhypercalcaemia was observed.

Compared with conventional therapies, 52% of the patients saved up to half an hour of treatment time daily because of the once-daily application. Good local tolerance and a convenient treatment regimen may also help compliance.

Key Words::

• Psoriasis
• Vitamin D 1 analogues
• Tacalcitol