THE LACK OF SYSTEMIC HYDROCORTISONE EFFECTS AFTER MASSIVE AND PROLONGED EXTERNAL APPLICATIONS

[摘要] The present investigation was conducted to determine whether or not undesirable systemic effects may result from prolonged external application of large amounts of hydrocortisone to wide areas of damaged skin. Ten female and 9 male patients 5 to 60 years old were studied. The amount of hydrocortisone applied per subject ranged from 8750 to 95,000 mg. Treatment lasted from 3 to 20 months. Clinical follow-up revealed no side effects attributable to hydrocortisone. Laboratory assays (performed at intervals), including circulating eosinophile counts, white blood cell differentiation, urinary 17-ketosteroid analyses, and quantitative assays of blood glucose and serum electrolytes did not show any distinct changes. The results strongly suggest that external hydrocortisone treatment does not produce any major systemic effects following the use of large amounts over prolonged periods of time.