Systemic effects of local treatment with high doses of potent corticosteroids in psoriatics

Abstract

The risk of systemic effects of high doses of potent topical corticosteroids was evaluated in 6 psoriatics with lesions on more than 50% of the body surface. Before the examinations the patients had been treated for 3-4 months with 35-65 g fluorinated corticosteroids daily. General clinical examination, plasma cortisol determinations, and tetracosactrin tests were carried out. One patient showed clinical signs of Cushing's syndrome including diabetes mellitus, another had a slight Cushingoid appearance. The plasma cortisol levels were depressed in 5 of the 6 patients on the first post-treatment day. A subnormal plasmacortisol response to tetracosactrin stimulation was noted in 3 of the patients. In these cases the potent corticosteroid therapy was discontinued. One month later a follow-up was performed, which showed a clinical and laboratory normalization except for the tetracosactrin test in one case. The study emphasizes the risk of serious systemic effects of the absorbed corticosteroids, if high doses are used for long periods.