Calcipotriol as pretreatment prior to daylight-mediated photodynamic therapy in patients with actinic keratosis: A case series.

This split-face design study evaluated the effect of pretreatment with calcipotriol prior to daylight-mediated photodynamic therapy (DL-PDT) in patients with actinic keratosis (AK). The study included 11 subjects with grade I-III AK (mean age: 55 years). Subjects used once-daily calcipotriol 50 mcg/g ointment on half the face/scalp for 15 days prior to DL-PDT. Evaluations of efficacy, safety and subject satisfaction were conducted 48 h and 7 days after treatment, and at 1- and 3-month follow-ups. Three months after treatment with calcipotriol/DL-PDT and DL-PDT alone, the complete response rate was 85% and 70%, respectively. The partial response rate was 12% and 25%, respectively. During calcipotriol pretreatment, 6 subjects reported erythema and moderate desquamation. In 7 subjects, calcipotriol/DL-PDT was associated with more marked erythema than that observed with DL-PDT alone. Eight subjects reported they preferred DL-PDT alone due to the inconvenience caused by the daily application of calcipotriol and the related erythema and desquamation. Although calcipotriol improved the efficacy of DL-PDT, it may not be applicable to all patients. DL-PDT is a simpler, safer and more convenient option than conventional-PDT. Therefore, the use of additional agents prolonging the course of treatment and increasing cost may diminish the advantages currently offered by DL-PDT.