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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
11:39
The Goeckerman Regimen for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis
Published on: July 11, 2013
Trends in on and off-label calcipotriene use
Daniel J Pearce1, Fabian Camacho, Rajesh Balkrishnan
1Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment
|November 10, 2006
Summary
Calcipotriene is widely used for psoriasis and other skin conditions. Data shows a significant portion of its use is for non-psoriasis dermatoses, highlighting its broad therapeutic utility.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Pharmacology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Calcipotriene, a vitamin D analog, was introduced in 1994 and rapidly became a leading treatment for psoriasis.
- Its mechanism, primarily regulating cellular differentiation, suggests potential efficacy in various dermatoses beyond psoriasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze clinical trends in calcipotriene utilization in the United States.
- To characterize demographic factors, provider specialties, and off-label uses of calcipotriene.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a representative sample of patient visits from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) data.
- Examination of calcipotriene mentions in relation to diagnoses, provider specialty, and patient demographics.
Main Results:
- Calcipotriene was associated with 5.8 million physician visits during the study period.
- Approximately 57% of calcipotriene mentions were not linked to a psoriasis diagnosis.
- An increase in non-psoriasis uses and prescriptions by non-dermatologists was observed, particularly after 1997.
Conclusions:
- Calcipotriene demonstrates significant utility in treating a range of dermatoses beyond psoriasis.
- Physicians and policymakers should recognize the widespread application of calcipotriene in dermatologic care.
- Findings support the established role of calcipotriene in managing diverse skin conditions.
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