Clinical comparison of methylprednisolone aceponate and prednicarbate in chronic eczema

Abstract

Methylprednisolone aceponate (MPA) is a new topical corticosteroid developed specifically for the treatment of eczematous disorders. A multicentre, controlled, randomized open trial to assess the efficacy and tolerability of a once daily application of MPA in comparison to a twice-daily application of Prednicarbate (PC) was conducted in 566 patients suffering from allergic contact eczema (51.2%), toxic degenerative eczema (46.8%) as well as a combination of allergic contact eczema and toxic degenerative eczema (1.9%). Both treatment groups were approximately the same size, 280 patients being treated with MPA, 286 with PC.Treatment was carried out for a maximum of 28 days. The median duration of treatment was 22 days with MPA and 21 days with PC. Clinical efficacy was not different between MPA ointment (0.1%) used once daily with 45.5% complete healing and 39.8% marked improvement as compared to PC ointment (0.25%) used twice daily with 48.3% complete healing and 40.2% marked improvement. Both treatments were well tolerated. 4.6% of the patients reported adverse events on MPA-treatment and 3.8% on PC-treatment. No serious events were experienced. From this study it can be concluded that in various eczematous disorders efficacy and tolerability of MPA ointment used once daily are essentially the same as for PC ointment used twice daily.

Glucocorticoid-lnduced Modulation of Cytokine Secretion from Normal and Leukemic Human Myelomonocytic Cells

“…Quantitative differenees for the more recently available GC molecules, as studied here, have also been reported when murine myelomonocytic cells were studied [6]. However, in clinical studies, differences in potency between several of these molecules could not be detected [16][17][18], This under lines the complex dependence of GC action on the cell type studied.…”

Balancing efficacy and safety in the management of atopic dermatitis: the role of methylprednisolone aceponate

“…A majority of AD patients (50-80%) experience complete or distinct improvement in objective (erythema, vesiculation, weeping, crusting, scaling and lichenification) and subjective (itching, burning and pain) symptoms within 1 week of treatment according to patients' and physicians' global assessments. 38,39 This proportion improves to >90% of patients with longer (up to 3 weeks) treatment. 37,38,40 In particular, MPA provides fast and effective relief from itching and reddening, especially in patients with severe symptoms.…”

“…38,39 This proportion improves to >90% of patients with longer (up to 3 weeks) treatment. 37,38,40 In particular, MPA provides fast and effective relief from itching and reddening, especially in patients with severe symptoms. 39 Once-daily MPA has demonstrated good efficacy, with rapid onset of activity in a wide range of patients with AD.…”

“…The safety (see below) and efficacy of MPA permit once-daily administration. 36,38,40,42,47,48 As routine skin care products (such as emollients, oils, moisturizers) have to be applied regularly at times that do not interfere with the dosing schedule for medication, once-daily dosing is a great advantage when encouraging patients to comply with the regimen. 42,47 MPA has a very rapid onset of activity, offering the potential to curtail duration of treatment; the low incidence of systemic side-effects may also appeal to patients with 'corticosteroid phobia'.…”

“…42,47 MPA has a very rapid onset of activity, offering the potential to curtail duration of treatment; the low incidence of systemic side-effects may also appeal to patients with 'corticosteroid phobia'. 14,[38][39][40][41][42][43]49 Finally, MPA is available in a wide range of formulations, including two ointments, a cream, a lotion and a milk, of equal efficacy that suit the needs of different patient age, skin condition, location of lesions and disease severity. 39,40,49 …”