[Evaluation of topical calcipotriol in psoriasis]

Calcipotriol is an analogue of vitamin D3 with effect on epidermal keratinization, cellular division and modulation of immune response. An evaluation of its therapeutic effect when given in twenty-five psoriatic patient with less than 25% of their body surface affected was done. The medication was applied twice daily during six weeks on involved areas. The evolution was evaluated by the psoriatic area and severity index (PASI) analysis. The evaluation of initial and terminal PASI analysis revealed a decrease in the psoriatic activity that fluctuated from 25% to 100%, with a 61% average. A reactivation in the psoriatic lesion was noticed two weeks after the medication was halted; thereafter, the calcipotriol was restarted for an additional four weeks and a decrease in their PASI with a 74% average was achieved. There were no important side effects reported. Calcipotriol is effective in the treatment of psoriasis and it is an important addition to the therapeutic medications available to treat psoriasis. It is important to give the treatment for longer periods of time for evaluating the possibility to induce prolonged remissions.