[Vitamin D3 and its analogues: a new age in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris?].

The introduction of this article is devoted to the physiological role of vitamin D3 and its synthesis. The authors refer to the accidental introduction of vitamin D3 into the psoriasis treatment, which later led to the development of a less toxic vitamin D3 analog named calcipotriol, and its administration as a topical antipsoriatic agent. Reviewing the literature the authors discuss the pharmacological and immunological effects of calcipotriol as well as the potential applications of vitamin D3.