A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the clinical efficacy of ciclopirox olamine (1.5%) shampoo for the control of scalp psoriasis

The efficacy of ciclopirox olamine (1.5%) shampoo was evaluated in patients with scalp psoriasis using a placebo-controlled 'whole-head' clinical trial design. Unmedicated shampoo was used during a 2-week run-in period followed by a 4-week double-blind, randomized treatment period with trial shampoos used thrice weekly. During treatment, clinical assessments of overall scalp psoriasis and change from baseline as well as plaque size and the degree of scaling were performed by trained technicians while patients self-assessed overall scalp psoriasis and scalp itching, gave an overall opinion of treatment and assessed the dryness/greasiness of their hair. For ciclopirox olamine only, there was significant (P < 0.05) improvement over baseline for clinical assessment of overall scalp psoriasis (day 29) and degree of scaling (days 8, 15 and 29) and for patients' self-assessments of overall scalp psoriasis (days 15 and 29) and scalp itching (day 15), but differences from placebo were not significant. Ciclopirox olamine tolerability and acceptability were good.