Combination therapy using maxacalcitol and corticosteroid lotions preliminary to monotherapy with maxacalcitol lotion for scalp psoriasis

Abstract

Topical treatment with betamethasone butyrate propionate lotion on 37 patients with scalp psoriasis was replaced with a combination therapy using maxacalcitol lotion (on weekdays) and BBP (on the weekends). This combination therapy was later switched to MXA monotherapy. To identify the optimum duration of the combination therapy, the patients were divided into two groups: a 4-week group and an 8-week group, which were given combination therapy and monotherapy. In both groups, the total mean scores for the skin symptoms had significantly improved in comparison with that obtained at the outset of the study (p < 0.01). In terms of overall improvement, 20.0% of the 4-week group and 72.7% of the 8-week group yielded scores reflecting moderate or greater improvement. The treatment administered to the 8-week group was significantly more effective than that given to the 4-week group at the end of the trial (p < 0.01). This study also suggests that a 4-week combination therapy is an option before switching to monotherapy, but that an 8-week therapy is preferable in severe cases.

Key words::

• psoriasis vulgaris
• maxacalcitol lotion
• betamethasone butyrate propionate lotion
• scalp
• combination therapy period