Reduction of UV-A radiation induced by calcipotriol in the treatment of vulgar psoriasis with oral psoralen plus UV-A

Several therapeutic regimens combining topical agents with UV light have been developed and widely used in the treatment of psoriasis. In this study, we compared the clinical efficacy and safety of the combined therapy of oral psoralen plus UV-A (PUVA) with calcipotriol vs PUVA therapy alone. Materials and Methods. Twenty-eight outpatients (11 women and 17 men), with mean age of 45 years (age range, 20-69 years), with moderate, chronic, stable plaque psoriasis (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index range, 8-15) were enrolled in this study. Patients had not used systemic antipsoriatic drugs or UV radiation therapy for at least 2 months and topical treatment for at least 2 weeks prior to the study. Women were included only if they were not pregnant or breast-feeding. We excluded patients receiving treatment with vitamin D or calcium, phosphate, or other drugs that might influence calcium or phosphate metabolism (eg, steroids or biphosphonate); patients needing