Percutaneous absorption of hydrocortisone increases with long-term administration. In vivo studies in the rhesus monkey

Abstract

This study compares percutaneous absorption of hydrocortisone after short and long-term administration. The experimental design was to first apply 14C-hydrocortisone. This was followed by long-term administration of nonradioactive hydrocortisone. Then 14C-hydrocortisone was applied again when urinary excretion of radioactivity from the first application reached minimum detectable levels. Short- (first 14C-hydrocortisone application) and long-term (second 14C-hydrocortisone application) penetrations were compared. The level of absorption of hydrocortisone significantly increased during long-term administration, whether applied in an acetone vehicle or in a 0.9% emulsion ointment base (Eucerin). A placebo study in which only an acetone vehicle was applied for a long period followed by 14C-hydrocortisone application showed no enhanced penetration. It is suggested that long-term application of hydrocortisone alters the penetration barrier, resulting in enhanced penetration. The relevance of this long-term corticosteroid use in man is possibly of great importance.

Case‐control study of cleft lip or palate after maternal use of topical corticosteroids during pregnancy

“…Over 1.5 million prescriptions are written each year in Australia for topical potent corticosteroids such as betamethasone, dexamethasone, and triamcinolone, some of which are used by pregnant women. Unless they also contain aminoglycosides, the pregnancy category for these preparations is “A”: “drugs which have been taken by a large number of pregnant women and women of child‐bearing age without any proven increase in the frequency of malformations or other direct or indirect harmful effects on the fetus having been observed.” Systemic absorption depends on the type and dosage of preparation used and the nature and extent of the underlying skin condition, but it can be significant, especially with repeated applications [Mizuchi et al, 1976; Schaefer et al, 1977; Wester et al, 1980; Turpeinen, 1991; Barnetson and White, 1992; Melendres et al, 1992].…”

Percutaneous absorption and exposure assessment of pesticides

“…The exception is when the penetrant itself alters the barrier function of the skin, altering the absorption from subsequent applications, as demonstrated by hydrocortisone and salicylic acid. As shown with hydrocortisone, chronic administration resulted in signifi cant enhancement of penetration (Wester et al, 1980a) as a consequence of hydrocortisone-induced thinning of the skin. Changes to local skin histology and function were also attributed to increased fl ux across rat skin following chronic administration of the keratolytic agent, salicylic acid (Roberts and Harlock, 1978).…”

Percutaneous Absorption of Minoxidil in Man

“…All subsequent urinary output was collected as pooled specimens for each subject at approxi¬ mately 4,8,12,36 Analysis of fecal excretion of radioactivity was performed for three subjects from the 1% minoxidil group and three from the 5% minoxidil group. Since no radioactivity could be detected in the fecal sam¬ ples of these six subjects, fecal samples from the remainder of the group were not analyzed.…”