Review of the toxicology of beclomethasone dipropionate.

This paper reviews the published toxicity of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP). BDP is a synthetic glucocorticosteroid which has a powerful local anti-inflammatory effect but little systemic action. It has been developed for both dermatological and inhaled applications. LD50 values and other acute studies indicated low toxicity. Findings published for repeat dose and reproductive toxicity studies embraced the known range of metabolic and physiological effects of glucocorticoids. For repeat dose studies, these included reduction in body weight gains, cushingoid syndrome in dogs, reductions in the numbers of lymphocytes and the weights of the tissues connected with the immune system, and hepatic glycogen deposition and fatty liver changes. In reproductive studies, there was an increase in the prevalence of cleft palate in mice and rabbits and in the number of dead foetuses, and ossification was retarded. Despite the route of administration, there was a general similarity of effects within and between species. All observations were characteristic of synthetic glucocorticoids and related to the intrinsic effects of these drugs.