Clobetasol propionate shampoo 0.05% and calcipotriol solution 0.005%: a randomized comparison of efficacy and safety in subjects with scalp psoriasis.

BACKGROUND

Scalp involvement in psoriatic patients represents a common issue. Treatment of the hairy skin requires adequate pharmaceutical formulations; hence, a new specific shampoo formulation of clobetasol propionate 0.05% was developed by Galderma R&D, Inc.

METHODS

For this multicenter, randomized, investigator-masked, parallel group study, 151 subjects with moderate to severe scalp psoriasis were randomized to 4 weeks of treatment with clobetasol propionate shampoo or calcipotriol solution.

RESULTS

Clobetasol propionate demonstrated significantly superior efficacy to calcipotriol solution (total severity score: mean difference 0.51, 95% CI 0.05-0.97, p = 0.028; global severity score: mean difference 0.43, 95% CI 0.08-0.78, p = 0.016). Adverse events were more common in the calcipotriol group than in the clobetasol propionate shampoo group. Telangiectasia and skin atrophy did not differ significantly between treatments; however, a burning sensation was significantly more common in the calcipotriol solution group.

CONCLUSIONS

Short contact therapy of scalp psoriasis with this new shampoo formulation of clobetasol propionate was significantly more effective and better tolerated than calcipotriol solution for the treatment of scalp psoriasis.