A randomized, multicenter study of calcipotriene ointment and clobetasol propionate foam in the sequential treatment of localized plaque-type psoriasis: Short- and long-term outcomes

Background The merit of topical sequential therapy involving clobetasol foam and calcipotriene ointment has not been experimentally demonstrated. Objective We sought to assess the short-term efficacy of twice-daily clobetasol foam plus calcipotriene ointment compared with either agent alone as monotherapy and to compare long-term use of weekday calcipotriene ointment with or without clobetasol foam weekend pulse therapy. Methods Eighty-six subjects with plaque-type psoriasis received twice-daily treatment with clobetasol foam plus calcipotriene ointment or either agent as monotherapy for 2 weeks. Subjects in the combination group who achieved remission received weekday calcipotriene plus weekend pulse therapy with either clobetasol foam or vehicle for 6 months. Results After 2 weeks, psoriasis scores were significantly lower ( P Limitations Small sample size may have hampered the detection of statistical significance during long-term therapy. Conclusion The combination of clobetasol foam and calcipotriene ointment is significantly more effective than monotherapy for short-term treatment. Weekday calcipotriene plus weekend pulse clobetasol foam shows a consistent trend toward greater maintenance of remission.