Jf. Bourke et al., THE EFFECTS OF UVB PLUS CALCIPOTRIOL ON SYSTEMIC CALCIUM HOMEOSTASIS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC PLAQUE PSORIASIS, Clinical and experimental dermatology, 22(6), 1997, pp. 259-261
We studied the effects of combining topical calcipotriol, used at the
maximal licensed dose, and narrow-band short wave ultraviolet light (T
LO1) on systemic calcium homeostasis in the treatment of chronic plaqu
e psoriasis. Patients were randomized in an open fashion to receive ei
ther UVB alone, UVB plus 100 g of calcipotriol (50 mu g/g) ointment pe
r week or calcipotriol ointment alone (100 g/week). With the exception
of a slight increase in serum phosphate in the group receiving combin
ation therapy (from 0.92 to 1.22 mmol/l; P = 0.046), no differences we
re observed between or within the groups. Psoriasis area and severity
scores (PASI) improved to a greater extent in those patients receiving
both UVB and calcipotriol (P=0.045). The combination of UVB and calci
potriol is a safe, effective treatment for chronic plaque psoriasis.