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Adrenal function after topical steroid therapy
Author(s) -
March Cyril,
Rea Thomas H.,
Porter Michael J.
Publication year - 1965
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1002/cpt19656143
Subject(s) - metyrapone , medicine , adrenal function , endocrinology , psoriasis , dexamethasone , steroid , hormone , dermatology
Suppression of pituitary‐adrenal axis activity was observed in one of a series of 4 patients with psoriasis during treatment with topical fluorinated corticosteroids applied under occlusive dressings. The patient who showed suppression had a normal metyrapone test immediately after therapy. All 4 subjects had normal adrenal‐pituitary axis function, as measured by the metyrapone inhibition test, before treatment, but one showed impaired function after treatment, despite absence of adrenal suppression during therapy. With the conditions employed in this study, concentration of the medicament appears to be a significant factor in the production of adrenal suppression. From similar studies by other authors it is evident that extent of body area occluded and the status of the skin barrier are also important variables in influencing the presence or absence of percutaneous absorption sufficient to produce adrenal suppression.