Clinical effect of vitamin D3 analogues is not inactivated by subsequent UV exposure.

Author(s): Adachi Y, Uchida N, Matsuo T, Horio T

Affiliation(s): Department of Dermatology, Kanssai Medical University, Osaka, Japan.

Publication date & source: 2008-02, Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed., 24(1):16-8.

Publication type: Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Combining phototherapy with topical vitamin D3 analogues is a useful therapy for the treatment of psoriasis by reducing the cumulative UV dose required for clearance of lesions. Experimental investigations demonstrated that calcipotriol is degraded by UV radiation, and suggested that calcipotriol should be applied after phototherapy but not immediately before. METHODS: Calcipotriol or maxacalcitol ointment was topically applied to psoriatic plaques of six patients immediately before or after phototherapy on the right or left side of the body, respectively. RESULTS: Topical application of vitamin D3 analogues either before or after irradiation by psoralen and UVA radiation (PUVA) or narrow-band (NB)-UVB showed exactly similar effects in all patients. CONCLUSION: Therapeutic effects of vitamin D3 analogues are not clinically inactivated by subsequent irradiation with PUVA or NB-UVB phototherapy.