• Indications
  1. Plaque Psoriasis (FDA approved for age >=12 years)
  2. Other off label uses
    1. Morphea
    2. Vitiligo
    3. Darier Disease
  • Mechanism
  1. Calcipotriene (Calcipotriol) is a synthetic Vitamin D derivative primarily used for Psoriasis
  2. Calcipotriene competes with 1,25 hydroxy-Vitamin D at receptors that regulate cell proliferation and differentiation
    1. Suppresses Keratinocyte proliferation, helping to normalize epidermal growth
  • Medications
  1. Calcipotriene Cream 0.005%
  2. Calcipotriene Ointment 0.005%
  3. Calcipotriene Scalp Solution 0.005%
  4. Calcipotriene Foam 0.005%
  • Dosing
  1. For adults and children age >=12 years
  2. Ointment applied twice daily to involved regions of scalp and body (NOT the face)
  • Efficacy
  1. Begin to see benefit in 2 weeks
  2. Maximum benefit in 6-8 weeks
    1. Resolution in 10% of patients
    2. Moderate Improvement in 70% of patients
    3. No Improvement in 20% of patients
  3. Useful adjunct to PUVA
  • Adverse Effects
  1. Contact Dermatitis (allergic or irritant, occurs in up to 10-15% of patients)
    1. Local irritation, burning, itching (esp. in the skin folds)
    2. Do not use on face
  2. Hypercalcemia
    1. Calcipotriene is a Vitamin D analog with risk of Hypercalcemia
    2. Limit Calcipotriene to 100 grams per week
  • Safety
  1. Pregnancy Category C
  2. Unknown safety in Lactation
  • Resources
  1. Calcipotriene Ointment (DailyMed)
    1. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=1bc020e0-b5ae-4cda-aa5b-87fa0452a6bc
  2. Calcipotriene Cream (DailyMed)
    1. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=377eafda-737c-4ba2-9ec5-61209b8814ed
  3. Calcipotriene Solution (DailyMed)
    1. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=21378c25-5622-8bf7-1a8c-b05940a846a0
  4. Calcipotriene Foam (DailyMed)
    1. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=51f208d0-7b3f-44cc-8bed-92fa3d2e7bbe