INHIBITION OF ELICITATION OF CONTACT-DERMATITIS IN HUMANS BY MOMETASONE FUROATE - EVALUATION BY MEANS OF 20-MHZ B-SCANNING ASSOCIATED WITH IMAGE-ANALYSIS

Background: Mometasone furoate (MF) is a new strongly lipophilic stero id which has an anti-inflammatory effect as evaluated by in vivo and i n vitro studies. Objective: The objective of the present study was to investigate the degree of inhibition of experimental allergic contact dermatitis induced by the treatment with ME Methods: The therapeutic e ffect was evaluated by an echographic method associated with image ana lysis, MF activity was compared to that of hydrocortisone acetate 0.5% (Cortaid Cream, Lachifarma), clobetasone butyrate 0.05% (Eumovate Cre am, Glare) and clobetasol propionate 0.05% (Clobesol Cream, Glare), cl assified respectively as weak, moderately potent and very potent stero ids. Results: The different corticosteroid formulations employed for i nhibiting experimentally induced contact dermatitis reflect the expect ed rank order of efficacy, Conclusion: MF behaves like clobetasol buty rate ranking as a moderately potent corticosteroid.