EFFECT OF DESONIDE OINTMENT, 0.05-PERCENT, ON THE HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY-ADRENAL AXIS OF CHILDREN WITH ATOPIC-DERMATITIS

Desonide ointment has demonstrated a good safety and efficacy profile during the many years it has been used in treating dermatoses. However , there have been no controlled clinical trials to evaluate its system ic safety when used in treating children. Suppression of the hypothala mic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis can occur after repeated application of topical corticosteroids. In general, the degree of suppression of t he MPA axis function is related to the daily dosage of steroid given, the duration of its administration, the extent of body surface covered , and the potency of the corticosteroid. This study sought to determin e the comparative effects of 0.05 percent desonide and 2.5 percent hyd rocortisone ointments on the HPA axis of children with atopic dermatit is. There was no suppression of early morning cortisol in either treat ment group. The ACTH-stimulated mean cortisol values after four weeks of treatment were not significantly different from the baseline values for either treatment group. We conclude that neither 0.05 percent des onide ointment nor 2.5 percent hydrocortisone ointment compromised the BPA axis of children with atopic dermatitis treated topically for fou r weeks.