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*

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

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

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

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*

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the difference in concentration of 0.53% betamethasone in aqueour humor after betamethasone subconjunctival injection on upper and lower fornix after cataract extraction. A total of 8 rabbits were used. Cataract extractions were performed with the cryoprobe. After 6 hours, 0.53% betamethasone was subconjunctivally in upper fornix of the left eye and injected in lower fornix of the right eye. The control group of 3 rabbits underwent with the same procedures but the without lens delivery. the concentration of 0.53% betamethasone in aqueous humor was measured with HPLC(High Performance Liquid Chromatograph) after fine needle aspiration of aqueous humor. The results obtained were as follows. 1. In 5 eyes of the control group in 3 rabbits, 0.53%betamethasone was injected subconjunctivally on the lower fornix. The mean concentration of 0.53% betamethasone in aqueous humor was 0.544 +/- 0.0818 microgram/ml. 2. After 0.53% betamethasone subconjunctival injection on upper fornix after lens extraction, the mean concentration of 0.53% betamethasone in aqueous humor was 0.318 +/- 0.0117 microgram/ml. 3. After 0.53% betamethasone subconjunctival injection on lower fornix agter lens extraction, the mean concentration of 0.53%betamethasone in aqueous humor was 0.702 +/- 0.0332 microgram/ml. 4. The mean concentration of the betamethasone in aqueous humor after 0.53% betamethasone subconjunctival injection on lower fornix after lens extraction was significantly higher than on upper fornix(p<0.05).
Aqueous Humor* ; Betamethasone* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Cataract Extraction ; Rabbits