Clobetasol propionate shampoo 0.05% is efficacious and safe for long-term control of moderate scalp psoriasis

Abstract

We evaluated in this study the efficacy and safety of an alternate regimen using clobetasol propionate 0.05% shampoo (CP shampoo) for long-term control of scalp psoriasis. Patients with moderate scalp psoriasis (Global Severity Score [GSS] of 3 on a 0–5 scale) first received CP shampoo once daily for 4 weeks. Patients with a GSS ≤ 2 were then randomized into the maintenance phase, receiving CP shampoo or vehicle twice weekly. When relapse (GSS > 2) occurred, patients received the 4-week daily CP shampoo treatment. Patients who had a GSS ≤ 2 afterwards reinitiated the twice-weekly maintenance according to the original randomization scheme. Among the 168 patients enrolled, 141 (83.9%) had a GSS ≤ 2 after the initial phase. The median time to first relapse was 141 days with CP shampoo, almost 4 months later than with vehicle (30.5 days;p < 0.0001). After 6 months, the percentage of patients who had no relapse was significantly higher with CP shampoo (40.3%) than with vehicle (11.6%;p < 0.001). CP shampoo was also safe during the 7-month study period, without leading to more cases of skin atrophy, telangiectasia, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression or adverse events compared to vehicle. The alternate treatment regimen with CP shampoo is efficacious and safe for long-term management of moderate scalp psoriasis.

Key words::

• clobetasol propionate
• long-term control
• maintenance
• scalp psoriasis
• shampoo
• short-contact therapy

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the investigators who participated in the study: Dr David GRATTON (Montreal, Québec); Dr Lynn GUENTHER (London, Ontario); Dr Harvey LUI (Vancouver, British Columbia); Dr Charles LYNDE (Markham, Ontario); Dr Jerry TAN (Windsor, Ontario); Dr Richard THOMAS (Vancouver, British Columbia); Dr Ronald VENDER (Hamilton, Ontario); Dr Beatrice WANG (Montreal, Québec); and Dr Y. May MA for editorial assistance.

Declaration of interest: This study was funded by Galderma. The investigating authors received payments for this research project. N. Kerrouche is an employee of Galderma and H. Villemagne was an employee of Galderma until study completion.