Biopsy proven morphea treated with tacalcitol ointment: case report

A 43-year-old woman presented with a widespread morphea, which had its onset three months before. The patient had several plaques of active, pigmented, lilac halo disease on the trunk, arms and thighs. A biopsy confirmed that the patient was suffering from morphea. Therapy with clobetasol propionate ointment 0.05% was introduced, applied twice a day, 5 days a week. After a month, the ointment failed to significantly improve the lesions. Then the patient was treated with clobetasol ointment in the morning and tacalcitol ointment 4 mcg/g in the evening. This combination resulted in marked improvement of the disease after 20 days of therapy, and we decided to stop topical steroid. After three months of treatment with topical tacalcitol once a day, the plaques regressed considerably and only a very slight pigmentation remained. Therapy was further reduced to one evening, every other day for six months more, and then was suspended completely. No side effects were observed and there was no recurrence at 24-month follow up.