Researchers at the University of Leuven (Belgium) conducted patch tests on six patients between 2004 and 2016 who presented with psoriasis that did not improve with use of topical calcipotriol.
Reports of contact allergy to calcipotriol are rare in the literature, considering its widespread use. However, the patch testing and successful alternative treatment confirmed the diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis in all six cases.
“The lesions improved following replacement of calcipotriol therapy with topical corticosteroids and/or oral medication,” wrote An Goossens, MD, of the contact allergy unit in the department of dermatology at the university.
Five of the patients were adults ranging in age from 26 to 59 years (two men and three women), and the sixth was a 10-year-old girl. They all had lesions on their feet, scalp, or hands.
The successful patch test consisted of a 2 mcg/mL solution of calcipotriol in citrate-buffered isopropanol.
Patients who are diagnosed with this specific allergy may be able to tolerate treatment with a different topical vitamin D analog such as tacalcitol (Contact Derm. 2017 Nov. doi: 10.1111/cod.12910).