The Effect of Betamethasone Dipropionate Cream 0.05% (Diprosone) on Adrenocortical Function

Abstract

This study was conducted with 16 subjects to detertnitie whether the topical application of betatnethasone dipropionate (Diprosotie) 0,05% creatn, iti amounts of 30 or 60 g daily for a period of four weeks, would lead to adrenocortical suppre.s.sion. Five patietits were given 60 g daily, six patietits given 30 g daily and five nortnal subjects 30 g daily. Adrenocortical futiction was assessed weekly by tneatis of plastna cortisol levels. The results showed that transient adretiocortical suppression may follow the use of betatnethasone dipropiotiate 0.05% cream daily at these dosage levels and this tnay be a futiction of heightetied absorption in some individuals.It is intended to carry out a further trtal using both plastna cortisol detertnination atid itisulin-induced hypoglycaetnia as a measure of hypothakuntis-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression, as it is believed that mittor atid moderate degrees of adrenal suppression tnay not becotne obvious from plastna cortisol determinations.