Efficacy and local safety of a calcipotriol/ betamethasone dipropionate ointment in elderly patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

The proportion of elderly patients with psoriasis vulgaris is set to increase in the future due to an ageing population. This descriptive analysis assessed the efficacy and safety of a new ointment containing calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate (Daivobet/Dovobet in a pooled analysis of patients aged 60 years and over. A total of 1534 patients, including 357 aged > or = 60 years, with psoriasis vulgaris received the two-compound ointment once-daily in four randomised, double-blind, studies. After 4 weeks treatment the mean reduction in PASI was 67.8% in patients < 60 years compared with 72.6% in patients > or = 60 years. "Controlled disease" (i.e. a global assessment of "absence of disease" or "very mild disease"), according to the investigators, was achieved by 52.1% of patients < 60 years and 58.2% of patients > or = 60 years. Patients in both age groups reported a similar number of lesional/perilesional adverse drug reactions; 6.4% in patients < 60 years vs 5.0% in patients > or = 60 years. Thus, the new two-compound ointment is effective and well-tolerated in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris, regardless of age group.