Practical adherence to topical treatment of psoriasis from the point of view of drug usage: Comparison of combination of betamethasone butyrate propionate and calcipotriol with betamethasone butyrate propionate alone

We compared the clinical effects, patients' QOL, and adherence of psoriasis treatment with a) a combination of betamethasone butyrate propionate and calcipotriol, and b) betamethasone butyrate propionate alone. Although the clinical effects of both treatment showed equivalent efficacy, the usage of betamethasone butyrate propionate was a little smaller in combination treatment, and only the combination treatment improved patients' QOL. Surprisingly, the percentage of drug usage in the volume of prescription were very low. This study indicates that combination treatment of betamethasone butyrate propionate and calcipotriol is useful in terms of dose reduction of corticosteroid, and improvement of adherence in topical treatment might increase the clinical effects.