Prolonged administration of triamcinolone in dermatologic disorders; therapeutic efficacy and side-effects.

Abstract

Triamcinolone (Aristocort * ) is a potent corticosteroid. Its effectiveness as a morbidostatic anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and antirheumatic agent has been reported by many investigators. 1-8 Side-effects also result from the use of triamcinolone. It is the purpose of this report to record the therapeutic efficacy and the incidence and severity of side-effects with prolonged administration of triamcinolone to patients with various inflammatory, allergic, and pruritic dermatoses. Background There has been an intensive search for corticosteroid analogues with greater antiinflammatory activity and less serious side-effects than cortisone and hydrocortisone. Some of these new corticosteroids have an enhanced anti-inflammatory activity and less water and salt retention (prednisone and prednisolone). However, when a fluorine particle was added to hydrocortisone and prednisolone in the 9-α position, increased anti-inflammatory properties were marred by increased salt and water retention. Bernstein et al., 9 studying one of the last mentioned compounds, found