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Calcitriol ointment: a new option for topical psoriasis therapy

Skin & Allergy News, May, 2009 by Emily Becker, John Y.M. Koo

ABSTRACT

Psoriasis is a common, chronic, inflammatory disorder of the skin that is associated with considerable discomfort, disability, and diminished quality of life. Topical vitamin D derivatives have long been used to treat psoriasis and are effective and safe in a variety of monotherapy and combination-therapy regimens. Calcipotriene (Dovonex[R]) is a vitamin D product in cream and solution formulations that has been available in the United States since 1994 for the treatment of plaque psoriasis. A new vitamin D agent, calcitriol ointment (Vectical[R]), has recently been approved in lotion psoriasis the United States for the treatment of plaque psoriasis as well. Calcitriol, the naturally occurring hormonally active form of vitamin D3, is an effective topical psoriasis medication with a strong safety profile in long-term treatment. Topical calcitriol 3 [micro]g/g ointment was superior to vehicle ointment alone in two randomized, double-blind clinical trials. In a long-term open-label study, calcitriol produced sustained improvement in psoriatic lesions for up to 1 year, with a low risk of adverse events and without reported clinical effects on systemic calcium homeostasis. In a direct comparison of calcipotriene ointment and calcitriol ointment, the latter produced greater improvement of psoriasis lesions on flexural skin areas with a lower incidence of skin irritation and was preferred by patients