Comparative efficacy and safety of the combination of betamethasone dipropionate and calcipotriene with topical betamethasone dipropionate and calcipotriene alone in the treatment of localized vitiligo

Authors

  • Mohd. Nurul Alam
  • MA Wahab
  • Lubna Khondker
  • Md Shirajul Islam Khan

Keywords:

Vitiligo, betamethasone dipropionate and calcipotriene

Abstract

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of topical calcipotriol ointment (0.005%) and betamethasone dipropionate (0.05%) cream, given alone and in combination, in treatment of localized vitiligo. Methods It was a clinical trial conducted from January 2012 to August 2012. Patients of localized vitiligo attending outpatient department of Dermatology and Venereology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka were the study population. In group A, 20 patients applied betamethasone dipropionate cream 0.05% in the morning and topical calcipotriene ointment (0.005%) in the evening, in group B, 20 patients applied betamethasone dipropionate cream 0.05% twice daily; In group C, 20 patients used calcipotriene ointment 0.005%. Results in The vitiligo score in group A, B and C reduced from 26, 25 and 23, respectively to 3, 8 and 6 (p<0.05). The side effects experienced by patients at 5th follow-up were: in group A, erythema (15%), dryness (15%), scaling (5%) and pruritus (5%); in group B, erythema (15%), scaling (5%), dryness (5%) and pruritus (5%); and in group C, erythema (10%) [p=0.005]. Conclusion Both the drugs, calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate when used individually as monotherapy, were found to be equally effective in the treatment of vitiligo, but the combination of the two was found to be superior in efficacy. Regarding safety level, calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate when used individually, were found to be safer in the treatment of vitiligo, than the combination of the two. 

References

Njoo MD, Westerhof W. Vitiligo. Pathogenesis and treatment. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2001;2:167-8S.

Westerhof W. Vitiligo management update. Skin Therapy Lett. 2000;5:1-2,5.

Bleehen SS. Disorders of skin color. In: Champion RH, Burton JL, Burn DA, Breathnach SM eds. Rook/Wikinson/ Ebling Textbook of Dermatology. London Blackwell Science 1998; 1753-1815.

Kovacs SO. Vitiligo. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1998;38:647-66.

Halder RM, Taliaferro SJ. Vitiligo. In: Wolff K, Goldsmith LA, Katz SI et al., editors. Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine. New York: The McGraw- Hill Companies; 2008. p.616-8.

Habib A, Sheikh ZI, Khan QD, Rahman SB. Efficacy and safety of oral dexamethasone pulse treatment for vitiligo. Pak Arm Forces Med J. 2006;2:1-6.

Lebwohl M. Topical application of calcipriene and corticosteroid: combination regimens. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1997;37:55-8.

Travis LB, Silverberg NB. Calcipotrien and corticosteroid combination therapy for vitiligo. Pediatr Dermatol. 2004;21:495-8.

Kim SM, Lee HS, Hann SK. The efficacy of low-dose oral corticosteroids in the treatment of vitiligo patients. Int J Dermatol. 1999;38:546-50.

Pasricha JS, Khaitan BK. Oral mini-pulse therapy with betamethasone in vitiligo patients having extensive or fast spreading disease. Int J Dermatol. 1993;32:753-7.

Radakovic-Fijan S, Furnsinn-Friedl AM, Honigsmann H, Tanew A Oral dexamethasone pulse treatment for vitiligo. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2001;44:814-7.

Seister S, Ugruel S, Tilgen W, Reinhold U. Use of high dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy in patients with progressive and stable vitiligo. Int J Dermatol. 2000;39:624-7.

Majid I. Vitiligo management: An update. BJMP. 2010;3(3):a332.

Lisa BT, Nanette BS. Calcipotriene and Corticosteroid combination therapy for vitiligo. Pediatr Dermatol. 2004;21:495-8.

Kumaran MS, Kaur I, Kumar B. Effect of topical calcipotriol, betamethasone dipropionate and their combination in the treatment of localized vitiligo. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol., 2006;20:269-73.

Parsad D, Saini RDNB, Nagpal R. Calcipotriol in vitiligo: a preliminary study. Pediatr Dermatol. 1999;16:317-20.

Chiavérini C, Passeron T, Ortonne JP. Treatment of vitiligo by topical calcipotriol. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2002;16:137-8.

Yalçin B, Sahin S, Bükülmez G et al. Experience with calcipotriol as adjunctive treatment for vitiligo in patients who do not respond to PUVA alone: a preliminary study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2001;44:634-7.

Cherif F, Azaiz MI, Hamida AB, Dhari ABO. Calcipotriol and PUVA as treatment for vitiligo. Dermatol Online J. 2003; 9(5):4.

Parsad D, Saini R, Verma N. Combination of PUVAsol and topical calcipotriol in vitiligo. Dermatology. 1998;197:167-70.

Pasricha JS, Khaitan BK. Oral mini-pulse therapy with betamethasone in vitiligo patients having extensive or fast spreading disease. Int J Dermatol. 1993;32:753-7.

Downloads

Published

2016-12-02

How to Cite

1.
Alam MN, Wahab M, Khondker L, Khan MSI. Comparative efficacy and safety of the combination of betamethasone dipropionate and calcipotriene with topical betamethasone dipropionate and calcipotriene alone in the treatment of localized vitiligo. J Pak Assoc Dermatol [Internet]. 2016Dec.2 [cited 2025Feb.7];24(2):143-9. Available from: http://www.jpad.com.pk/index.php/jpad/article/view/194

Issue

Section

Original Articles

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 3 > >>