From the Guidelines
Dovonex (calcipotriene) is not recommended for the treatment of actinic keratosis, as it is not listed among the recommended treatments in the guidelines of care for the management of actinic keratosis 1. The guidelines conditionally recommend the use of diclofenac, but with a lower quality of evidence compared to 5-fluorouracil or imiquimod, which are strongly recommended for field treatment of actinic keratosis (AK) 1. Some key points to consider when treating actinic keratosis include:
- The use of UV protection is strongly recommended for patients with AK 1
- Field treatment with 5-fluorouracil or imiquimod is strongly recommended for patients with AKs 1
- Cryosurgery is also a recommended treatment option for AKs 1
- Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is conditionally recommended for patients with AKs 1 It is essential to note that Dovonex is a vitamin D analog primarily approved for treating psoriasis, not actinic keratosis, and its mechanism of action is different from the established treatments for AK. Using the appropriate medication is crucial because actinic keratoses are precancerous lesions that require proper treatment to prevent potential progression to squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, patients with actinic keratosis should consult with a dermatologist to determine the best course of treatment, which will likely involve one of the established treatments rather than Dovonex.
From the Research
Treatment of Actinic Keratosis
- Actinic keratosis (AK) is a premalignant skin lesion that can progress to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- Various treatment options are available for AK, including topical interventions such as 5-fluorouracil, imiquimod, ingenol mebutate, and photodynamic therapy 2, 3, 4
Use of Topical Calcipotriol Plus 5-Fluorouracil
- Topical calcipotriol plus 5-fluorouracil has been used as a combination therapy for the treatment of AK 5, 6
- This combination has been shown to reduce the number of AKs on the face, scalp, and upper extremities 5, 6
- The combination of calcipotriol plus 5-fluorouracil has also been shown to lower the risk of cSCC on the face and scalp area over a 3-year period 5, 6
Comparison with Other Treatments
- The efficacy of calcipotriol plus 5-fluorouracil has been compared to other topical treatments such as imiquimod and 5-fluorouracil monotherapy 5, 6
- However, more studies are needed to compare the efficacy of calcipotriol plus 5-fluorouracil to other FDA-approved topical drugs 5, 6
Dosage and Administration
- Unfortunately, there is no information available on the use of dovonex (calcipotriol) to treat actinic keratosis in the provided studies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- The provided studies discuss the use of calcipotriol in combination with 5-fluorouracil for the treatment of AK, but do not provide information on the use of dovonex as a standalone treatment or its dosage and administration for AK treatment.