Calcipotriol is a vitamin D3 derivative widely used in the treatment of psoriasis.
Incidence
High: 20% of patients.
Clinical manifestations
Lesional and perilesional irritation.
Contact allergy (underestimated).
Diagnostic methods
Patch-tests with the cream (ointment is irritant) or better with calcipotriol 10 µg/ml in isopropanol.
Patch-tests with propylene-glycol.
Mechanisms
Irritation.
Sometimes delayed contact hypersensitivity.
Management
Cream and solution are less irritant than ointment.
Avoidance in cases of contact allergy.
Cross-reactivity may exist between calcipotriol, 1-alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3.