Topical calcipotriol (MC 903) for psoriasis: a clinical study.

Calcipotriol, a non-calcemic vitamin D3 analogue, inhibits the proliferation and is necessary for final differentiation of keratinocytes. The aim of the present study was to determine the efficacy and tolerability of calcipotriol ointment in patients treated for 6 weeks. Twenty patients with chronic plaque-type psoriasis were treated twice daily with calcipotriol ointment 50 ng/g. After 6 weeks' treatment there was a marked and statistically significant decrease in the PASI score values for 17 patients, no improvement was seen in 1 patient and local adverse events occurred in 2. Hypercalcemia or other laboratory abnormalities did not develop in any patient.