Short-term safety assessment of clobetasol propionate 0.05% shampoo: hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression, atrophogenicity, and ocular safety in subjects with scalp psoriasis

J Drugs Dermatol. 2006 Apr;5(4):328-32.

Abstract

Clobetasol propionate is known to be a very effective treatment for psoriasis; however, its use is limited by potent corticosteroid class related side effects such as hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression and atrophogenicity. The aim of this single-center, parallel group, randomized study was to assess the HPA axis suppression potential, atrophogenicity, and ocular tolerability of clobetasol propionate shampoo in 26 patients with scalp psoriasis. Suitable subjects were treated once daily for 4 weeks with clobetasol propionate shampoo, to be rinsed off after 15 minutes or with a leave-on clobetasol propionate gel. The study demonstrated that clobetasol propionate shampoo did not lead to HPA axis suppression or to skin atrophy. Conversely, the gel led to HPA axis suppression and a decrease in skin thickness. Neither formulation had an impact on ocular safety. Despite the short contact application time, the clobetasol propionate shampoo provides similar efficacy results to the gel.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Cutaneous
  • Adult
  • Atrophy / chemically induced
  • Clobetasol / administration & dosage
  • Clobetasol / adverse effects
  • Clobetasol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Clobetasol / therapeutic use
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Female
  • Hair Preparations / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / drug effects
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / physiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Ocular Physiological Phenomena / drug effects
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System / drug effects
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System / physiology
  • Psoriasis / drug therapy*
  • Scalp Dermatoses / drug therapy*
  • Skin / drug effects
  • Skin / pathology
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Hair Preparations
  • Clobetasol