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Industry: Email Alert RSS FeedSystematic review of comparative efficacy and tolerability of calcipotriol in treating chronic plaque psoriasis
British Medical Journal, April 8, 2000 by Darren M Ashcroft, Alain Li Wan Po, Hywel C Williams, Christopher E M Griffiths
Abstract
Objectives To evaluate the comparative efficacy and tolerability of topical calcipotriol in the treatment of mild to moderate chronic plaque psoriasis.
Design Quantitative systematic review of randomised controlled trials.
Subjects 6038 patients with plaque psoriasis reported in 37 trials.
Main outcome measures Mean difference in percentage change in scores on psoriasis area and severity index, and response rate ratios for both patients' and investigators' overall assessments of marked improvement or better. Adverse effects were estimated with the rate ratio, rate difference, and number needed to treat
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Results Calcipotriol was at least as effective as potent topical corticosteroids, calcitriot, short contact dithranol, tacalcitol, coal tar, and combined coal tar 5%, allantoin 2%, and hydrocortisone 0.5%. Calcipotriol caused significantly more skin irritation than potent topical corticosteroids (number needed to treat to harm for irritation 10, 95% confidence interval 6 to 34). Calcipotriol monotherapy also caused more irritation than calcipotriol combined with a potent topical corticosteroid (6, 4 to 8). However, the number needed to treat for dithranol to produce lesional or perilesional irritation was 4 (3 to 5). On average, treating 23 patients with short contact dithranol led to one more patient dropping out of treatment owing to adverse effects than if they were treated with calcipotriol.
Conclusions Calcipotriol is an effective treatment for mild to moderate chronic plaque psoriasis, more so than calcitriol, tacalcitol, coal tar, and short contact dithranol. Only potent topical corticosteroids seem to have comparable efficacy at eight weeks. Although calcipotriol caused more skin irritation than topical corticosteroids this has to be balanced against the potential long term effects of corticosteroids. Skin irritation rarely led to withdrawal of calcipotriol treatment. Longer term comparative trials of calcipotriol versus dithranol and topical corticosteroids are needed to see whether these short term benefits are mirrored by long term outcomes such as duration of remission and improvement in quality of life.
Introduction
Psoriasis affects 1%-2% of the population in the United Kingdom.[1 2] Despite the availability of several treatments, psoriasis is often difficult to treat owing to its sporadic course, variable response to treatments, and adverse effects. In the absence of a permanent cure the goal of treatment is to minimise the extent and severity of the condition so that it no longer disrupts substantially the patient's quality of life.[3]
In recent years calcipotriol, a synthetic vitamin Ds analogue, has become one of the most widely prescribed treatments for psoriasis in the United Kingdom. To assess its usefulness compared with the more traditional topical treatments for psoriasis we undertook a systematic review of trials of topical calcipotriol in the treatment of mild to moderate chronic plaque psoriasis.
Methods
Criteria for considering studies for review
We included only randomised controlled trials of calcipotriol. Patients with chronic plaque psoriasis treated with calcipotriol 0.005% cream or ointment were eligible for inclusion.
The primary efficacy criteria were the proportion of patients showing "marked improvement" or better in the patients' overall assessments and the mean percentage change in scores from baseline on the psoriasis area and severity index.[4] The proportion of patients graded as marked improvement or better in the investigators' overall assessments of response was used as a secondary outcome measure. Adverse events were also recorded regarding lesional or perilesional irritation, facial or scalp irritation, exacerbation of psoriasis, and the number of withdrawals due to adverse effects.
Search strategy
We systematically searched (1987 to January 1999) Medline, Embase, the Cochrane controlled trials register, and BIDS index to scientific and technical proceedings using the textwords calcipotriol, MC903, calcipotriene, Dovonex, Daivonex, and Psorcutan. Reference lists of all retrieved randomised controlled trials were also searched and the manufacturer of calcipotriol contacted. Trial eligibility was determined by two authors, who also independently extracted the data. Any disagreements were resolved by discussion. Abstracts were considered; relevant information not included in the published reports was obtained by either contacting the principal author of the trial or the manufacturer.
Methods of the review
We grouped the topical corticosteroids on the basis of their potencies: moderate (clobetasone butyrate 0.05%), potent (betamethasone valerate 0.1%, betamethasone dipropionate 0.1%, desoxymethasone 0.25%, fluocinonide 0.05%, halobetasol 0.05%), and very potent (clobetasol propionate 0.05%, diflorasone diacetate 0.05%).
Outcomes
Dichotomous outcomes-Efficacy was estimated with the rate ratio, defined as the proportion of patients achieving at least marked improvement in the calcipotriol group compared with the control group. Adverse effects were also estimated with the rate ratio, the rate difference, and the number needed to treat. We performed an intention to treat analysis. In all cases we used the Mantel-Haenszel method for interval estimation of the individual rate ratio and rate difference.[5]
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