Topical calcitriol has been used worldwide in the treatment of psoriasis for a decade and has been proven to be safe and effective for the treatment of plaque psoriasis. Because the marketing of calcipotriol ointment was discontinued throughout much of the world, calcitriol is now the only noncorticosteroid-containing vitamin D ointment available in many countries. This article reviews the history of calcitriol use, as well as how it compares with other current topical treatments for psoriasis.
KurdS.K., GelfandJ.M.The prevalence of previously diagnosed and undiagnosed psoriasis in US adults: results from NHANES 2003–2004. J Am Acad Dermatol.2009 Feb; 60(2): 218–24.
2.
GriffithsC.E., BarkerJ.N.Pathogenesis and clinical features of psoriasis. Lancet2007; 370: 263–271.
ChoiJ., KooJ.Y.Quality of life issues in psoriasis. J Am Acad Dermatol.2003 Aug; 49(2 Suppl): S57–61.
5.
ZhengY., DanilenkoD.M., ValdezP.Interleukin-22, a T(H) 17 cytokine, mediates IL-23-induced dermal inflammation and acanthosis. Nature2007; 445: 648–651.
6.
LebwohlM., AliS.Treatment of psoriasis. Part 1. Topical therapy and phototherapy. J Am Acad Dermatol.2001 Oct; 45(4): 487–98; quiz 499–502. Review.
7.
ZhuX., WangB., ZhaoG., GuJ., ChenZ., BriantaisP.An investigator-masked comparison of the efficacy and safety of twice daily applications of calcitriol 3 microg/g ointment vs. calcipotriol 50 microg/g ointment in subjects with mild to moderate chronic plaque-type psoriasis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol.2007 Apr; 21(4): 466–72.
8.
van de KerkhofP.C., Berth-JonesJ., GriffithsC.E., HarrisonP.V., HonigsmannH., MarksR.Long-term efficacy and safety of tacalcitol ointment in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis. Br J Dermatol.2002 Mar; 146(3): 414–22.
9.
NagpalS., LuJ., BoehmM.F.Vitamin D analogs: Mechanism of action and therapeutic applications. Curr Med Chem.2001 Nov; 8(13): 1661–79.
10.
LehmannB.Role of the vitamin D3 pathway in healthy and diseased skin–facts, contradictions and hypotheses. Exp Dermatol.2009 Feb; 18(2): 97–108.
11.
BrownA.J., SlatopolskyE.Vitamin D analogs: Therapeutic applications and mechanisms for selectivity. Mol Aspects Med.2008 Dec; 29(6): 433–52.
12.
LuI., GilleaudeauP., McLaneJ.A., HeftlerN., KamberM, GottliebS.Modulation of epidermal differentiation, tissue inflammation, and T-lymphocyte infiltration in psoriatic plaques by topical calcitriol. J Cutan Pathol1996; 23: 419–30.
13.
MorimotoS., YoshikawaK., KozukaT., KitanoY., ImanakaS., FukuoK.An open study of vitamin D3 treatment in psoriasis vulgaris. Br J Dermatol.1986 Oct; 115(4): 421–9.
14.
SmithE.L., PincusS.H., DonovanL., HolickM.F.A novel approach for the evaluation and treatment of psoriasis. oral or topical use of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 can be a safe and effective therapy for psoriasis. J Am Acad Dermatol.1988 Sep; 19(3): 516–28.
15.
HolickM., PocheP., BhawanJ.Topically applied and orally ad ministered 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 is a novel, safe, effective therapy for the treatment of psoriasis: A three-year experience and histologic analysis. J Dermatolog Treat.1989; 92(446).
16.
RizovaE., CorrollerM.Topical calcitriol–studies on local tolerance and systemic safety. Br J Dermatol.2001 Apr; 144 Suppl 58: 3–10.
17.
PerezA., ChenT.C., TurnerA., RaabR., BhawanJ., PocheP.Efficacy and safety of topical calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin d3) for the treatment of psoriasis. Br J Dermatol.1996 Feb; 134(2): 238–46.
18.
GerritsenM.J., Van De KerkhofP.C., LangnerA.Long-term safety of topical calcitriol 3 microg g(-1) ointment. Br J Dermatol.2001 Apr; 144 Suppl 58: 17–9.
19.
LebwohlM., MenterA., WeissJ., ClarkS.D., FloresJ., PowersJ.Calcitriol 3 microg/g ointment in the management of mild to moderate plaque type psoriasis: Results from 2 placebo-controlled, multicenter, randomized double-blind, clinical studies. J Drugs Dermatol.2007 Apr; 6(4): 428–35.
20.
KragballeK.Treatment of psoriasis with calcipotriol and other vitamin D analogues. J Am Acad Dermatol.1992 Dec; 27(6 Pt 1): 1001–8.
21.
OrtonneJ.P., HumbertP., NicolasJ.F., TsankovN., TonevS.D., JaninA.Intra-individual comparison of the cutaneous safety and efficacy of calcitriol 3 microg g(-1) ointment and calcipotriol 50 microg g(-1) ointment on chronic plaque psoriasis localized in facial, hairline, retroauricular or flexural areas. Br J Dermatol.2003 Feb; 148(2): 326–33.
22.
LebwohlM., OrtonneJ.P., AndresP., BriantaisP.Calcitriol ointment 3 microg/g is safe and effective over 52 weeks for the treatment of mild to moderate plaque psoriasis. Cutis.2009 Apr; 83(4): 205–12.
23.
AfifiT., de GannesG., HuangC., ZhouY.Topical therapies for psoriasis: Evidence-based review. Can Fam Physician.2005; 51: 519–525.
24.
HutchinsonP.E., MarksR., WhiteJ.The efficacy, safety and tolerance of calcitriol 3 microg/g ointment in the treatment of plaque psoriasis: A comparison with short-contact dithranol. Dermatology.2000; 201(2): 139–145.
25.
HofmannU.B., EggertA.A., BrockerE.B., GoebelerM.Calcitriol vs. dithranol in combination with narrow-band ultraviolet B (311 nm) in psoriasis. Br J Dermatol.2003 Apr; 148(4): 779–83.
26.
MenterA., KormanN.J., ElmetsC.A., FeldmanS.R., GelfandJ.M., GordonK.B.Guidelines of care for the management of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. section 3. guidelines of care for the management and treatment of psoriasis with topical therapies. J Am Acad Dermatol.2009 Apr; 60(4): 643–59.
27.
CamarasaJ.M., OrtonneJ.P., DubertretL.Calcitriol shows greater persistence of treatment effect than betamethasone dipropionate in topical psoriasis therapy. J Dermatolog Treat.2003 Jan; 14(1): 8–13.
28.
LebwohlM., FreemanA.K., ChapmanM.S., FeldmanS.R., HartleJ.E., HenningA.Tacrolimus ointment is effective for facial and intertriginous psoriasis. J Am Acad Dermatol.2004 Nov; 51(5): 723–30.
29.
LiaoY.H., ChiuH.C., TsengY.S., TsaiT.F.Comparison of cutaneous tolerance and efficacy of calcitriol 3 microg g(-1) ointment and tacrolimus 0.3mg g(-1) ointment in chronic plaque psoriasis involving facial or genitofemoral areas: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Br J Dermatol.2007 Nov; 157(5): 1005–12.
30.
KreuterA., SommerA., HyunJ., BrautigamM., BrockmeyerN.H., AltmeyerP.1% pimecrolimus, 0.005% calcipotriol, and 0.1% betamethasone in the treatment of intertriginous psoriasis: A double-blind, randomized controlled study. Arch Dermatol.2006 Sep; 142(9): 1138–43.
31.
WeinsteinG.D.Tazarotene gel: Efficacy and safety in plaque psoriasis. J Am Acad Dermatol.1997 Aug; 37(2 Pt 3): S33–8.
32.
TzungT.Y., WuJ.C., HsuN.J., ChenY.H., GerL.P.Comparison of tazarotene 0.1% gel plus petrolatum once daily versus calcipotriol 0.005% ointment twice daily in the treatment of plaque psoriasis. Acta Derm Venereol.2005; 85(3): 236–9.
33.
KaurI., DograS., JainR., KumarB.Comparative study of calcipotriol (0.005%) ointment and tazarotene (0.05% and 0.1%) gel in the treatment of stable plaque psoriasis. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol.2008 Sep-Oct; 74(5): 471–4.
34.
LebwohlM., MenterA., KooJ., FeldmanS.R.Combination therapy to treat moderate to severe psoriasis. J Am Acad Dermatol.2004 Mar; 50(3): 416–30.
35.
RingJ., KowalzickL., ChristophersE., SchillW.B., SchopfE., StanderM.Calcitriol 3 microg g-1 ointment in combination with ultraviolet B phototherapy for the treatment of plaque psoriasis: Results of a comparative study. Br J Dermatol.2001 Mar; 144(3): 495–9.
36.
SigmonJ.R., YentzerB.A., FeldmanS.R.Calcitriol ointment: A review of a topical vitamin D analog for psoriasis. J Dermatolog Treat.2009 Jan 1: 1–5.
