The efficacy, Safety and tolerability of tacalcitol ointment (Curatoderm©) with and without salicylic acid pretreatment were studied in a single-centre, randomized, intraindividual right-left comparison. Patients with stable psoriasis vulgaris were randomized to pretreatment with salicylic acid on the right (S patients) or left (7 patients) side. After a 2-week pretreatment period, in which 5% salicylic acid in white petrolatum was applied once daily ohly to the test areas randomized to pretreatment, tacalcitol ointment (4 I~g/g) was applied once daily to test areas on both sides of the body for eight weeks or to complete clearing. This was followed by a 4-week follow up period. The reduction in the sum score for erythema, infiltration and scaling at the end of the tacalcitol treatment period was highly significant (p<0.01) but there was no difference detectable between the pretreated and not pretreated sides. Although scaling and thus the sum score was significantly redukcd on the pretreated test areas at the end of the keratolytic pretreatment, this was offset by a verv strong reduction of the sum score on the not pretreated test areas once tacalcitol was applied Both the investigator and patients assessed the overall efficacy as good to verv good in over SO % of the lesions on both the pretreated and not pretreated sides. The overall tolerability was assessed as very good by all patients and the investigator. Adverse events were minimal and the laboratory values revealed no changes of clinical relevance following treatment. The results of this study demonstrate that a keratolytic pretreatment has no significant Influence on the efficacy, Safety or tolerability of tacalcitol treatment in psoriasic patients.

        Key words: psoriasis - salicylic acid - pretreatment - tacalcitol - Curatoderm©