| Abstrakt: |
Forty patients with chronic skin disease who have used potent topical corticosteroids for a prolonged period were studied to determine if adrenal axis suppression had occurred. Thirty-seven cases (92.5%) were normal when the first test was performed and all were normal when retested. Adrenal axis suppression was therefore not of importance in this group of typical outpatients with chronic skin disease. This is an important finding to put into perspective a theoretical rather than a real complication of topical corticosteroid therapy in adults. Absorption of topically applied corticosteroids occurs in normal individuals but especially when the skin is diseased and the integrity of the horny layer of the epidermis is disrupted. The use of occlusive dressings on the skin after topical preparations have been used, greatly enhances penetration, due to increased temperature and humidity of the skin. Many publications demonstrate that virtually all steroid compounds will penetrate the skin, and if enough is absorbed and the compound is potent enough, adrenal axis suppression will occur (Scoggins, 1962; Scholtz & Nelson 1965; Scoggins & Kliman 1965; Munro, Feiwel & James, 1967; James, Munro & Feiwel, 1967). The significance of adrenal axis suppression in relationship to prolonged use of topical corticosteroids by patients suffering from chronic skin disease, has not been adequately investigated. This paper reports a project undertaken to determine whether suppression occurs in patients using corticosteroid topically for control of their skin diseases, as outpatients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
Plný text