The efficacy and safety of
calcipotriol solution in the treatment of scalp
psoriasis was compared with placebo (vehicle
solution), in a multicentre double-blind, randomized, parallel-group study of 49 adult patients.
Calcipotriol solution (50 micrograms/ml), or placebo, was applied twice daily over a 4-week period. At the end of the study period 60% of patients on
calcipotriol showed clearance or marked improvement of their
psoriasis compared with 17% on placebo. Overall assessment of treatment response showed that
calcipotriol was superior to placebo in both investigator (P < 0.001; 95% confidence interval for difference 19.0-67.6) and patient (P < 0.001; 95% confidence interval for difference 18.3-68.0) assessments. Total sign score for
psoriasis (i.e. the sum of the scores for redness, thickness and scaliness) decreased by 48.9% in the
calcipotriol group, and by 18.6% in the placebo group (P = 0.005).
Calcipotriol was significantly superior to placebo in reducing redness, thickness, scaliness and extent of
psoriasis, and in the patients' assessment in reducing scalp flaking and
itching. No statistically significant changes in blood biochemistry were detected during the study, and the
solution was generally well tolerated.