PREDNICARBATE - A REVIEW OF ITS PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES AND THERAPEUTIC USE IN THE TREATMENT OF DERMATOLOGICAL DISORDERS

Prednicarbate is a synthetic nonhalogenated moderate to high potency c ortico-steroid. It is rapidly metabolised during skin permeation to pr ednisolone. Prednicarbate is indicated for relief of inflammation and pruritus associated with corticosteroid-responsive dermatological diso rders such as dermatitis (eczema) [including atopic dermatitis] and ps oriasis and can be used in children and elderly patients. Large clinic al trials conducted in patients with various dermatoses confirm the ef ficacy of the drug. Smaller trials, conducted in patients with dermati tis, show prednicarbate generally to have similar activity to comparat or corticosteroids. Data concerning use of prednicarbate in psoriasis are more limited, although again the drug demonstrated similar efficac y to the corticosteroids with which it was compared. The tolerability of prednicarbate was generally good, although methods of recording adv erse events were not clearly reported in many trials. The atrophogenic potential of prednicarbate appears to be low when no occlusion is use d. However, atrophogenic effects increase with occlusion. Therefore, p rednicarbate is a useful option for the treatment of corticosteroid-re sponsive dermatoses and appears to have low atrophogenic potential whe n used without occlusion.