Daily topical sequential triple therapy(tretinoin, betamethasone valerate and hydroquinone), as proposed by Kligman et al and Gano et al, has been performed on 29 Korean female patients with melasma. After 4 weeks treatment with 2% hydroquinone cream, only three of eight patients (37. 5%) showed good to excellent results. However, after 4 weeks treatment with 4% hydroquinone cream, twelve of twentyone patients (57. 1%) showed good to excellent results and its therapeutic effects appeared more rapidly than the former group. Overall, after 4 weeks treatment. 96.6% of the total group showed fair to excellent results of which 57. 7% had a good to excellent rating. The fair-com- plexioned Koreans had a better response than dark-complexioned.
Betamethasone Valerate* ; Betamethasone* ; Female ; Humans ; Melanosis* ; Tretinoin*

BACKGROUND

Psoriasis is a chronic disease that often requires lifelong treatment. While topical steroids remain as first-line therapy, there is a need for alternative treatments due to steroid-induced long-term side effects. Azelaic acid is a natural, plant-sourced, saturated dicarboxylic acid that can potentially be beneficial for the treatment of psoriasis plaques. Objectives The study was conducted to determine whether azelaic acid 15% cream is non-inferior to betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream in efficacy and safety for the treatment of plaque-type psoriasis.

Twenty-nine patients with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis applied azelaic acid 15% cream and betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream on symmetric and contralateral lesions for 6 weeks.

There was no statistically significant difference between the azelaic acid and betamethasone valerate groups in terms of pruritus, erythema, induration, scaling, and DLQI scores at baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 week (p>0.05). Azelaic acid was also non-inferior to betamethasone valerate in terms of safety, and the study showed a much lower frequency of mild adverse events with azelaic acid than a previous study.

Azelaic acid 15% cream was noninferior to betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream in terms of efficacy and safety in the treatment of plaque-type psoriasis and may be a promising alternative to topical steroids

No abstract available.
Betamethasone* ; Butyrates* ; Diethylpropion* ; Humans* ; Keratinocytes*

Administration, Cutaneous ; Administration, Topical ; Betamethasone Valerate ; therapeutic use ; China ; Clobetasol ; therapeutic use ; Cohort Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus ; epidemiology ; Ethnic Groups ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Glucocorticoids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; epidemiology ; India ; Lichen Planus ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; Malaysia ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Triamcinolone ; therapeutic use

PURPOSE: To observe and characterize subconjunctival lymphatics in patients with subconjunctival hemorrhages. METHODS: Patients who visited our clinic with subconjunctival hemorrhage resulting from ocular trauma, or subconjunctival injection of gentamicin and betamethasone during a cataract operation, were included in this study. Subconjunctival hemorrhages and subconjunctival lymphatics were observed using slit lamp biomicroscopy. RESULTS: Apparent dilated lymphatics were found in one patient with subconjunctival hemorrhage after rubbing of the eye; thin lymphatics were found in 10 patients with traumatic subconjunctival hemorrhages; and apparent dilated lymphatics were found in 10 patients after subconjunctival injection. Slit lamp biomicroscopy using a green filter allowed easy visualization of subconjunctival lymphatics. CONCLUSIONS: Subconjunctival lymphatics, which are not visible in normal ocular conditions, are evident on subconjunctival hemorrhages, especially after subconjunctival drug injection.
Betamethasone ; Cataract ; Conjunctiva ; Gentamicins ; Hemorrhage ; Humans

A retrospective controlled cohort analysis of live-born singleton neonates prematurely born before 34 weeks’gestation was conducted in Tu Du Maternity Hospital in HCMC from January 2000 to December 2000. 217 premature infants were devided into 2 groups: group 1: 80 infants, whose mother taking prenatal betamethasone and group 2: 137 infants, whose mother without taking prenatal betamethasone. Data were analyzed with the T test, the Chi square test and Fisher exact test. Relative risk, 95% confident interval, other maternal and infant factors were calculated for betamethasone use. The results: the independent variables, which included maternal demographic, maternal clinical risk, infant characteristics were controlled. There were a significant statistical difference for Respiratory distress syndrome incidence of infants between 2 groups. Mean duration of ventilator and mean duration of neonatal hospital care were statistically different. All other short term side effects analyzed were similar between 2 groups
Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn ; Betamethasone ; Infant, Premature

Human ; Female ; Adult ; Betamethasone ; Calcitriol ; Psoriasis ; Scalp

BACKGROUND: The abuse, misuse, and adverse effects to topical drugs have been widespread in Korea due to lack of awareness of seriousness of drug abuse and misuse, and improper designation of prescription and non-prescription drugs. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to bring Korean people to an awareness of the abuse, misuse, and adverse effects of topical drugs, and to stress the importance of proper designation of non-prescription drugs. METHODS: A multicenter, prospective, clinico-epidemiologic evaluation was made from patients with adverse effects to topical drugs who visited 31 dermatologic departments in university hospitals or private clinics nationwide from march, 2002 to December, 2002. RESULTS: The diagnostic incidence of adverse effects from topical drugs are abuse and misuse (40%), dermatophytosis incognito (29%), bacterial infection (14%), contact dermatitis (9%), acne (2.5%), skin atrophy (1.4%), telangiectasia (1%). Erghty three percent of adverse effects are caused by topical corticosteroids, and betamethasone valerate, prednicarbate and triamcinolone acetonide are commonly used topical corticosteroids that induce adverse effects frequently. The most common way to obtain topical drugs is purchase directly from pharmacist without prescriptions. CONCLUSION: From this study, we confirmed that adverse effects to topical corticosteroids are very common even after the enforcement of designation of prescription drugs and non-prescription drugs. The proper designation of prescripton drugs should be reevaluated and based on the safety of patients to protect people from adverse effects of topical drugs.
Acne Vulgaris ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Atrophy ; Bacterial Infections ; Betamethasone Valerate ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Nonprescription Drugs ; Pharmacists ; Prescription Drugs ; Prescriptions ; Prospective Studies ; Skin ; Substance-Related Disorders ; Telangiectasis ; Tinea ; Triamcinolone Acetonide

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a fatal, acute, hypersensitivity reaction which is associated with certain drugs. The disease has often been managed by systemic corticosteroids. However, there have been a few reports of SJS caused by systemic corticosteroids in Western countries. We herein present two cases of SJS related to deflazacort and betamethasone sodium phosphate. It is worth mentioning that corticosteroids might be offending drugs for SJS. Due to the difficulty in predicting a cross-reaction between corticosteroids and also the existence of concomitant allergies to other corticosteroids, we should consider an alternative strategy such as intravenous immunoglobulin-G in patients with SJS caused by systemic corticosteroids.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones* ; Betamethasone ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Sodium ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome*

BACKGROUND: In the treatment of vitiligo, topical corticosteroids are known to be effective, but are associated with serious adverse effects. Many studies have shown that topical calcipotriol is a promising therapeutic modality in vitiligo. In some studies, combined calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate ointment has been shown to be a more effective and well tolerated treatment for vitiligo. The combination therapy seems to synergistically act as an immunosuppressive and a pigment restorative agent. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the clinical efficacy of CCB (Combination Calcipotriol and Betamethasone dipropionate) gel compared with that of betamethasone dipropionate alone in the repigmentation of vitiligo. METHODS: In an intraindividual right-left comparison study (n=20), a CCB gel was applied once daily to a lesion on one side, and betamethasone dipropionate cream was applied to a lesion on the other side. The degree of repigmentation was assessed according to the Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) at baseline, 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks. RESULTS: The CCB gel treated group showed a remarkably improved therapeutic outcome compared to the betamethasone dipropionate monotherapy group: the percentages of VASI relative to the baseline at CCB gel treated sites were 82.73+/-8.17%, 70.45+/-14.05%, 62.73+/-17.52%, and 56.24+/-18.49% at 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks after treatment, respectively; while those of the other sites receiving betamethasone dipropionate were 89.55+/-7.24%, 84.55+/-10.60%, 77.73+/-14.38%, and 73.48+/-12.93%. Adverse effects such as atrophy and burning sensations were much less after CCB gel treatment than after betamethasone monotherapy. CONCLUSION: CCB gel is more effective and tolerable than betamethasone dipropionate monotherapy in repigmentation therapy for vitiligo.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Atrophy ; Betamethasone* ; Burns ; Sensation ; Vitiligo*