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A comparison of treatment with dithranol and calcipotriol on the clinical severity and quality of life in patients with psoriasis
Author(s) -
A. R. J. Wall,
T Poyner,
A. P. Menday
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2133.1998.02556.x
Subject(s) - calcipotriol , dithranol , psoriasis , dermatology , medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , dermatologic agents , chemistry , biochemistry , nursing , antibiotics
In a multicentre, randomized, open study, 306 patients of either sex, over 18 years of age with stable chronic plaque psoriasis > 100 cm 2 in surface area, and who gave informed consent, applied Dovonex (calcipotriol) ointment (50 μg/g) twice daily or Dithrocream (short‐contact dithranol) 0.1–2% for up to 3 months. The number of patients ‘cleared’ or with ‘marked improvement’ at the end of treatment were: investigators' assessment—calcipotriol 92 of 153 (60.1%); dithranol 67 of 131 (51.1%); odds ratio 1.44 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.90, 2.31; P = 0.128]; patients' assessment—calcipotriol 93 of 153 (60.8%); dithranol 65 of 131 (49.6%); odds ratio 1.57 (95% CI 0.98, 2.52; P = 0.059). Significant improvement in patients' quality of life as assessed by the Psoriasis Disability Index (PDI) and the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP) were seen in both treatment groups. Reduction in the total mean score for PDI was 6.5 in the calcipotriol group (95% CI 4.4, 8.6; P = 0.001) and 3.7 in the dithranol group (95% CI 1.1, 6.3; P = 0.005). The reduction in the total mean score for SIP was 2.8 in the calcipotriol group (95% CI 1.4, 4.3; P < 0.001) and 1.7 in the dithranol group (95% CI 0.2, 3.1; P = 0.024). Calcipotriol treatment tended to have advantages over treatment with dithranol in improving quality of life.