Based on evidence that calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3) inhibits proliferation and induces differentiation of epidermal cells,1 this hormone and its analogues have been used successfully in the treatment of adult psoriasis.2,3 However, its clinical use in children has been limited because of concern that cutaneous absorption of this hormone may cause toxic effects. In this pilot study, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy and safety of topical calcitriol in four children with psoriasis.
Subjects and Methods.
Two boys and two girls, whose ages ranged from 13 to 17 years, were enrolled in this double-blind intrapatient comparison after a 2-month washout period for the use of systemic antipsoriatic agents. The two boys were 175 and 160 cm tall and weighed 74.25 and 58.5 kg; the two girls were 152.5 and 142.5 cm tall and weighed 44 and 40 kg. All patients had at least 10% and up to 45% body