Effect of Calcipotriol Plus Hydrocortisone Ointment on the Adrenal Hormone Balance and Calcium Metabolism in Patients With Psoriasis Vulgaris on the Face and Skin Folds

Inclusion Criteria: * Clinical diagnosis of psoriasis vulgaris involving the face and the intertriginous areas * Clinical diagnosis of psoriasis vulgaris on the trunk and/or limbs or earlier diagnosed with psoriasis vulgaris on the trunk and/or limbs * An extent of psoriatic involvement on the face of at least 5 cm2 and the sum of all facial and intertriginous lesions at least 30 cm2 * Treatment areas (face and intertriginous) amenable to topical treatment with a maximum of 100g ointment per week * Disease severity of the face and intertriginous areas graded as moderate, severe or very severe according to the investigator´s global assessment of disease severity * Patients with a normal HPA axis function: serum cortisol concentration above 5 mcg/dl before adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH: tetracosactid/cosyntropin) injection and serum cortisol concentration above 18 mcg/dl 30 min after ACTH (tetracosactid/cosyntropin) injection * Albumin corrected serum calcium within reference range * Females of childbearing potential have to use a highly effective method of contraception during the study (hormonal contraceptives on oestrogen basis are not allowed) Exclusion Criteria: * A history of active allergy, asthma, allergic skin rash, or sensitivity to any medication (including ACTH/tetracosactid/cosyntropin) or to any component of the formulations being tested * Systemic treatment with all other therapies than biologicals, with a potential effect on psoriasis vulgaris (eg vitamin…