TEMPORARY CUSHING'S SYNDROME FROM PERCUTANEOUS ABSORPTION OF BETAMETHASONE 17‐VALERATE

Abstract

A female Infant presented at the age of five months with the typical external manifestations of Cushing's syndrome, due to percutaneous absorption of betamethasone 17-valerate which had been applied to areas of seborrhœic dermatitis present for the previous two months. Some equivocal results were obtained from investigations performed to exclude a primary adrenal disorder, but the situation was clarified by the gradual disappearance of the Cushingold features after the topical application of betamethasone 17-valerate was stopped. No previous report has been found of Cushing's syndrome resulting from percutaneous absorption of corticosteroid.