A comparison of fluticasone propionate ointment, 0.005%, and hydrocortisone-17-butyrate ointment, 0.1%, in the treatment of psoriasis.

Author(s): Nurnberger FG

Affiliation(s): Universitats Klinikum Rudolf Virchow, Klinik und Poliklinikum fur Dermatologie, Klinische Immunologie und Asthma, Berlin, Germany.

Publication date & source: 1996-02, Cutis., 57(2 Suppl):39-44.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial

The efficacy and safety of twice-daily topical application of fluticasone propionate ointment, 0.005%, and hydrocortisone-17-butyrate ointment, 0.1%, were compared in 113 adult patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis in a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, parallel study. The majority of patients had psoriatic involvement of long duration over a large body surface area (mean, 17%). The following efficacy assessments were made at weekly intervals for up to four weeks following initiation of treatment: physician's gross assessment of clinical response of the target lesion; severity of psoriatic signs and symptoms; and patients' assessment of treatment effects. Safety was assessed by monitoring and reporting any adverse events that occurred during the study. Fluticasone propionate ointment, 0.005%, was found to be therapeutically superior to hydrocortisone-17-butyrate ointment, 0.1%, as well as safe and well tolerated. Its onset of action was rapid and no systemic adverse effects occurred. Overall patients experienced progressive improvement with fluticasone propionate ointment, 0.005%.