Table 2.
Main characteristics of considered studies evaluating the vehicle associated with the highest effectiveness of the topical treatment of psoriasis
| Author, year | Study design | Study population | Treatment and vehicle | Main conclusions on the vehicle associated with the highest effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinter (2022) [29] | Pooled analysis of two different phase III clinical trials (NCT03308799; NCT03802344) | 1286 patients | Cal/BD cream vs Cal/BD topical suspension vs cream vehicle |
PGA treatment success for the cream was greater than topical suspension (p < 0.0001) Mean percentage reduction in mPASI for the cream was greater than topical suspension (p < 0.0001) |
| Stein Gold (2021) [28] | Phase III, multicenter, randomized, active, and vehicle-controlled trial | 796 patients | Cal/BD cream vs Cal/BD topical suspension |
The proportion of patients achieving PGA treatment success after 8 weeks was greater for Cal/BD cream A similar statistically significant difference in favor of Cal/BD cream at week 8 was demonstrated for the percentage change in mPASI from baseline and the proportion of patients obtaining mPASI75 |
| Paul (2017) [24] | Phase III, prospective, multicenter, investigator-blinded study (PSO-ABLE) | 463 patients | Cal/BD foam vs Cal/BD gel | Cal/BD foam achieved higher treatment success rates and mPASI75 by week 4 than Cal/BD gel by week 8 |
| Paul (2017) [26] | Subgroup analysis of the phase III, prospective, multicenter, investigator-blinded PSO-ABLE study | 159 patients | Cal/BD foam vs Cal/BD gel |
Cal/BD foam showed to be more effective compared with Cal/BD gel A greater percentage of patients achieved DLQI of 0/1 at weeks 4, 8, and 12 |
| Koo (2016) [27] | Phase II, multicenter, investigator-blind, 4-week trial | 376 patients | Cal/BD foam vs Cal/BD ointment |
Treatment success rates and mean percentage decrease in mPASI at week 4 was higher for the Cal/BD foam group Percentage of patients achieving PASI75 or PASI50 was not statistically significant |
| Lowe (2005) [34] | Multicenter, randomized, active- and vehicle-controlled, parallel-group study | 192 patients | Clobetasol propionate lotion vs clobetasol propionate cream | Lotion and cream showed comparable efficacy profiles, which were superior to the vehicle, including a similar success rate at the end of the treatment period |
| Decroix (2004) [35] | Multicenter, randomized, active- and vehicle-controlled, parallel-group study | 222 patients | Clobetasol propionate lotion vs clobetasol propionate cream | Lotion and cream showed comparable efficacy profiles, which were superior to the vehicle, including a similar success rate at the end of the treatment period |
| Bergstrom (2003) [36] | Randomized, single-blind clinical trial | 32 patients | Clobetasol propionate foam vs a combined program of clobetasol cream and solution |
PASI score decrease was higher for the foam In the treatment of scalp psoriasis, the foam had greater improvement than the combined treatment |
Cal/BD: calcipotriene/betamethasone dipropionate; PGA: Physician Global Assessment; mPASI: modified Psoriasis Area Severity Index; DLQI: Dermatology Life Quality Index; PASI: Psoriasis Area Severity Index; PASI75: (improvement of) Psoriasis Area Severity Index of 75% and PASI50: (improvement of) Psoriasis Area Severity Index of 50%