[Comparison of activity of different topical corticosteroid creams and ointments using a vasoconstriction assay: superiority of hydrocortisone butyrate over hydrocortisone].

BACKGROUND: Topical corticosteroids are the treatment of choice for numerous inflammatory or hyperproliferative skin diseases. The vasoconstriction assay is suitable to determinate corticosteroid activity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 60 healthy volunteers were studied. Three corticosteroids in both cream and ointment bases, as well as one corresponding vehicle, were investigated in a double-blind, randomised, intra-individual clinical study, using a vasoconstriction assay. The potencies of hydrocortisone, hydrocortisone-17-butyrate and mometasone furoate were measured, while hydrocortisone-17-butyrate was also compared to the vehicle.
RESULTS: The sum score of the clinical evaluation was for Hydrocortisone 34 (cream) and 18 (ointment), for Hydrocortisone butyrate 47 (cream) and 55 (ointment) and for Mometasone furoate 57 (cream) and 50 (ointment). The chromametric values for blanching with hydrocortisone were 1.73 (cream) and 1.48 (ointment), hydrocortisone butyrate 2.87 (cream) and 3.26 (ointment) and mometasone furoate 2.98 (cream) and 2.84 (ointment).
CONCLUSIONS: The clinical and chromametric evaluation of vasoconstriction showed activity for all corticosteroid formulations. Hydrocortisone butyrate was shown to be superior to hydrocortisone.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes