Treatment of mild to moderate plaque psoriasis with pimecrolimus, clobetasol, or alcipotriol cream : a comparative study

Abstract EN

Background : a number of studies have shown that application of topical calcineurin inhibitors is effective for a broad spectrum of inflammatory skin disorders.

Objective : to compare the efficacy and safety of 1% of pimecrolimus cream versus 0.05% of clobetasol cream and 0.005% of calcipotriol cream in psoriatic patients.

Patients and methods: adults on stable plaque psoriasis were randomized to three treatment groups (pimecrolimus, clobetasol, and calcipotriol group).

The criteria of inclusion involve affected BSA of ≤10%, with a local psoriasis severity index (LPSI) score of ≥5.

The main assessment of clinical efficacy was the percent changes in LPSI.

The quantitative determination of cytokine levels (IL -6, s IL-2R, TNF-α), skin biopsies, and creams safety were also evaluated.

Results : the median percent changes in LPSI for pimecrolimus, clobetasol and calcipotriol groups were 51%, 56% and 59%, respectively (p>0.05).

Pimecrolimus cream decreased cytokines levels and improved pathological features of psoriatic lesion.

Mild skin burning was the most frequent adverse event reported by pimecrolimus (40%; p<0.05) versus 8% in clobetasol and 12% in the calcipotriol gr.

Conclusion : pimecrolimus cream demonstrated efficacy comparable with that of clobetasol and calcipotriol for the treatment of mild to moderate plaque psoriasis.