Psoriasis is a noncontagious skin condition that produces red, dry plaques of thickened skin. The dry flakes and skin scales are thought to result from the rapid proliferation of skin cells that is triggered by abnormal lymphocytes from the blood . Psoriasis commonly affects the skin of the elbows, knees, and scalp.
Some people have such mild ps...
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Like other topical corticosteroids, clobetasol propionate foam has anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, and vasoconstrictive properties. The precise mechanism of the anti-inflammatory activity of topical steroids in the treatment of steroid-responsive dermatoses, in general, is uncertain. However, corticosteroids are thought to act by the induction of phospholipase A2 inhibitory proteins, collectively called lipocortins. It is postulated that these proteins control the biosynthesis of potent mediators of inflammation such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes by inhibiting the release of their common precursor arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid is released from membrane phospholipids by phospholipase A2.
Topical corticosteroids can be absorbed from intact healthy skin. The extent of percutaneous absorption of topical corticosteroids is determined by many factors, including the vehicle and the integrity of the epidermal barrier. Occlusion, inflammation and/or other disease processes in the skin may also increase percutaneous absorption.
Once absorbed through the skin, topical corticosteroids are handled through pharmacokinetic pathways similar to systemically administered corticosteroids. Due to the fact that circulating levels are well below the level of detection, the use of pharmacodynamic endpoints for assessing the systemic exposure of topical corticosteroids is necessary. They are metabolized, primarily in the liver, and are then excreted by the kidneys. In addition, some corticosteroids and their metabolites are also excreted in the bile.
A well-controlled clinical study evaluated 188 subjects with moderate to severe scalp psoriasis. Subjects were treated twice daily for 2 weeks with one of four treatments: OLUX Foam, Vehicle foam, a commercially available clobetasol propionate solution (Temovate® Scalp Application), or Vehicle solution. The efficacy of OLUX (clobetasol propionate) Foam in treating scalp psoriasis at the end of the 2 weeks' treatment was superior to that of Vehicle (foam and solution), and was comparable to that of Temovate Scalp Application. See Table 1 below.
Table 1: Efficacy results from a controlled clinical trial
in scalp psoriasis
| OLUX Foam n (%) |
Vehicle Foam n (%) |
|
| Total number of subjects | 62 | 31 |
| Subjects with Treatment Success* | 39 (63) | 1 (3) |
| Subjects with Parameter Clear at End point (Scalp Psoriasis) | ||
| Scaling-Clear at End point | 42 (68) | 3 (10) |
| Erythema-Clear at End point | 27 (44) | 2 (6) |
| Plaque Thickness-Clear at End point | 41 (66) | 3 (10) |
| *Defined as a composite of an Investigator's Global Assessment of “completely clear” or “almost clear,” a plaque thickness score of 0, an erythema score of 0 or 1, and a scaling score of 0 or 1 at Endpoint, scored on a severity scale of 0-4. | ||
Another well-controlled clinical study evaluated 279 subjects with mild to moderate plaque-type psoriasis (mean Body Surface Area at baseline was 6.7% with a range from 1% to 20%) of non-scalp regions. Subjects were treated twice daily for 2 weeks with OLUX (clobetasol propionate) Foam or Vehicle foam. The face and intertriginous areas were excluded from treatment. The efficacy of OLUX (clobetasol propionate) Foam in treating non-scalp psoriasis at the end of 2 weeks' treatment was superior to that of Vehicle foam. See Table 2 below.
Table 2: Efficacy results from a controlled clinical trial
in non-scalp psoriasis Plaque Thickness - Clear at Endpoint 41 (66) 3 (10)
| OLUX Foam n (%) |
Vehicle Foam n (%) |
|
| Total number of subjects | 139 | 140 |
| Subjects with Treatment Success* | 39 (28) | 4 (3) |
| Physician's Static Global Assessment-Clear or | 94 (68) | 30 (21) |
| Almost Clear at Endpoint | ||
| Scaling-Clear or Almost Clear at Endpoint | 101 (73) | 42 (30) |
| Erythema-Clear or Almost Clear at Endpoint | 88 (63) | 35 (25) |
| Plaque Thickness-Clear at Endpoint | 44 (32) | 5 (4) |
| *Defined as a composite of a Physician's Static Global Assessment score of 0 or 1, scaling score of 0 or 1, an erythema score of 0 or 1 and a plaque thickness score of 0, based on a severity scale of 0-5 at Endpoint. | ||
Last reviewed on RxList: 5/23/2008
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.
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