Efficacy of adding topical simvastatin to topical calcipotriol on improvement of cutaneous plaque psoriasis

Abstract

Background: Psoriasis is a common dermatologic disorder, with fluctuating response to treatment. Considering the proven immunomodulatory effects of oral simvastatin in psoriasis, this study aimed to determine whether the topical form has also antipsoriatic effects. Vitamin D analogs known to be effective and are considered the first line of therapy in mild to moderate cases. In this study, the efficacy of topical calcipotriol 0.005 ointment (as a standard method of treatment for psoriasis), versus combination of calcipotriol plus topical simvastatin was compared in the treatment of psoriasis. Methods: 80 patients with symmetric psoriasis who had body surface involvement up to 20 were divided randomly into 2 groups. Group A were treated with calcipotriol 0.005 ointment twice daily and group B with calcipotriol 0.005 ointment twice daily and simvastatin 3 ointment twice daily, for 12 weeks. The results were evaluated by a blind dermatologist using psoriasis area severity index (PASI) score at baseline, 4th, 8th and 12th weeks of treatment. In a similar way, a subjective assessment performed by patients based on photo-evaluation at the end of the study. Findings: Despite a continuous reduction in PASI score in both groups, according to both physician (P = 0.603) and patient (P = 0.243) assessments, topical simvastatin was not statistically more effective than conventional treatment of psoriasis. Conclusion: This study indicates that topical simvastatin is not associated with significant impacts in the treatment of psoriasis as compared to oral form. This study indicates that psoriasis is a systemic disorder with variable skin manifestations. © 2015, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.