Comparison of tacalcitol ointment with short-contact dithranol therapy in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris: a randomized multicentre, open prospective study on efficacy and safety

Abstract

A multicentre, randomized, open, prospective, parallel-group trial was carried out to compare the efficacy, tolerability and safety of topical treatment with tacalcitol ointment (4 μg/g, applied once daily) with that of short-contact dithranol therapy. The tolerability of tacalcitol was significantly (P=0.002) better and its efficacy was slightly better. Tacalcitol proved to be less (P<0.001) irritant than dithranol and did not stain the skin or clothes. The results suggest that tacalcitol is more convenient to use in plaque-type psoriasis than dithranol and does not produce the side-effects of topical corticosteroids and tar, making the drug a first-line treatment for chronic plaque psoriasis.

Key Words:

• Dithranol
• Psoriasis
• Tacalcitol
• Vitamin D₃