fluprednidene-acetate and Eczema

In a multicenter double-blind study, 44 patients suffering from eczema were bilaterally treated with 0.1% fluprednidene-21-acetate over 21 days. Continuous application twice a day was compared with intermittent therapy, i.e. 1 day intermission (15 patients), 2 days intermission (16 patients) and 3 days intermission (13 patients) using the cream base. Final evaluation was based on 11 criteria. All regimens, continuous and intermittent, proved effective (at least 90% reduction of the lesions). Treatment with 3 days intermission showed the same favorable results as continuous application, although the amount of glucocorticoids applied was 75% less. Measurements of the skin fold thickness (SFT) in healthy controls did not indicate any atrophy after treatment with fluprednidene under the same conditions as the eczema patients or under occlusion for up to 21 days. Clobetasol-17-propionate, in contrast, significantly reduced the SFT already after application of only 1 week.

Topics: Administration, Topical; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Atrophy; Child; Child, Preschool; Double-Blind Method; Drug Administration Schedule; Eczema; Female; Glucocorticoids; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pregnadienetriols; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Skin; Skinfold Thickness

The clinical effect of two topical corticosteroids, one of very strong potency (clobetasol propionate), and one of medium potency (flupredniden acetate), was studied in the maintenance therapy of 55 patients with chronic hand eczema. Initially, 61 patients were treated on both hands continuously for 1 to 3 weeks with clobetasol only which brought about healing in 90% of cases (mean time to healing: 11 days). In a subsequent double-blind left/right study, the capacity of the two corticosteroids for keeping the dermatitis in remission was compared using an intermittent schedule of 2 applications a week. The protocol was followed by 46 patients and the mean observation period was 138 days. Treatment with clobetasol kept patients free from relapses during the entire observation period in 70%, with flupredniden in 30%. Relapses occurred with clobetasol after a mean of 66 days, with flupredniden after 36 days. Side-effects, occurring with similar frequency with both drugs, were few and mild. It is suggested that an intermittent schedule is advantageous when using a corticosteroid of high potency.

Topics: Betamethasone; Chronic Disease; Clinical Trials as Topic; Clobetasol; Dermatitis, Atopic; Double-Blind Method; Drug Administration Schedule; Eczema; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Pregnadienetriols