Topical corticosteroid therapy for children: alclometasone dipropionate cream 0.05%.
The safety and efficacy of twice-daily applications of alclometasone dipropionate cream 0.05% were evaluated in 39 children with eczema during a three-week open study. Early-morning plasma cortisol levels were monitored at weekly intervals (visits 1, 2, and 3) for six children. For the remaining 33 children, levels were measured at visits 1 and 2 and two weeks later, at visit 4. Improvement in signs and symptoms of erythema, induration, and pruritus and a global response to therapy were determined weekly. Plasma cortisol levels remained within the acceptable normal range of 7 to 25 micrograms/100 ml throughout the study in all 39 children. At the conclusion of treatment, a favorable global response--complete clearing of monitored signs and symptoms--was observed in 28 (72%) children, and marked or moderate improvement was recorded for seven (18%) children.