Treatment of psoriasis by oral calcitriol. A study of 5 cases and review of the literature

Abstract Vitamin D topical analogues are now considered an excellent adjunct to the therapy of psoriasis. Systemic vitamin D3 treatment has been used occasionally, especially in case of associated hypocalcemia. We report five patients (aged 6, 16, 36, 58 and 79 years) successfully treated with vitamin D3 per os. Four had erythrodermic and/or pustulous psoriasis, and two of these had concomitant hypocalcemia. The fifth patient was a girl with pseudohypoparathyroidism and psoriasis vulgaris. The association of hypocalcemia and severe psoriasis is classical and was an incentive to try vitamin D treatment. A review of the literature showed that vitamin D can also be reported as a treatment of psoriasis vulgaris. Hypercalciuria and hypercalcemia are limiting risks. However calcium toxicity seems to be minor when vitamin D is given once a day at bedtime in doses lower than 2 micrograms/24 h. Double blind studies should be performed to determine the real efficacy of this treatment.