Effective treatment and improvement of quality of life in patients with scalp psoriasis by topical use of calcipotriol/betamethasone (Xamiol®-gel): results

Abstract

Background: Quality of life of patients with scalp psoriasis is greatly impaired due to itch and scaling. To control the disease long-term therapy is necessary and treatment success is greatly dependent on compliance.

Patients and methods: In a prospective, non-interventional trial in German dermatological practices 721 patients with scalp psoriasis received Xamiol(®) gel (calcipotriol 50 μg/g, betamethasone 0,5 mg/g) topically for 4 weeks. Severity was assessed by physician's global assessment (PGA) and quality of life by using a scalp-specific questionnaire at the beginning of the study and after 4 weeks of treatment.

Results: The mean disease severity of scalp psoriasis (PGA) improved from 4.26 to 2.49 (-41.8 %, p < 0.0001) during 4 weeks of treatment and quality of life improved from 10.57 to 3.22 (-69.5 %, p < 0.0001). Among patients with pre-treatment 89.5 % of patients and 87.9 % of dermatologists judged treatment response to Xamiol(®) gel as better/much better compared to previous therapy. Tolerability of Xamiol(®) gel was rated good/very good by 98 % of dermatologists and patients, respectively. The use of Xamiol(®) gel was found easy/very easy by 90.4 % of the patients.

Conclusions: Due to the major improvement of quality of life and quick onset of improvement together with the high acceptance by the patients Xamiol(®) gel may be regarded as the topical treatment of choice for scalp psoriasis.