A comparative study of methods for concurrent use of maxacalcitol and clobetasol propionate for the treatment of psoriasis

A comparative study was made on the therapeutic effect when maxacalcitol ointment 25 μ/g (Oxarol® ointment) and clobetasol propionate ointment 0.5 mg/g (Dermovate® ointment) were concomitantly applied in patients with psoriasis vulgaris. The 36 subjects were categorized into three groups. For those in Group I, maxacalcitol ointment 25 μg/g was used alone twice daily on weekdays and clobetasol propionate ointment 0.5 mg/g was concomitantly used twice daily on weekends; for those in Group II, clobetasol propionate ointment 0.5 mg/g was used once daily in the morning and maxacalcitol ointment 25 μ/g was used once daily in the evening; and for those in Group III, premixed ointment using maxacalcitol ointment 25 μg/g and clobetasol propionate ointment 0.5 mg/g (mix formulation = 1: 1) was used twice daily in the morning and evening. Clinical efficacy was determined in each group. Moderate improvement, marked improvement or clearance of psoriasis was greatest in Group I (mixture group), followed by Group I (morning/evening) and then Group I (weekdays/weekends) after 2-week and 4-week treatment periods. However, after a 6-week treatment period, a marked therapeutic effect was also achieved in Group I, and after 8 weeks of treatment, considerable improvement was seen in all groups. In conclusion, results of this study revealed that concomitant treatment with these external medicines is a useful therapy for psoriasis.