Topical Activities of Betamethasone Esters in Man

Abstract

Betamethasone and 23 of its esters and ortho-esters, assayed topically on healthy human subjects, had vasoconstrictor activities ranging from 0.1% to 400% of that of a standard steroid, fluocinolone acetonide. Compared with the standard in ointments, betamethasone 17,21 - methyl - ortho - valerate and betamethasone 17-valerate showed promising activity in the occlusion treatment of psoriasis. It is concluded that, despite its low precision, the vasoconstriction assay is of value for screening potential topically active anti-inflammatory steroids. Vasoconstriction assays should be designed to allow for differences in sensitivity between subjects and between sites of steroid application.