Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026
08:25
Contact Hypersensitivity as a Murine Model of Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Published on: September 26, 2022
[What should we know about contact hypersensitivity to local glucocorticoids?]
Suzana Ljubojević1, Jasna Lipozencić, Aleksandra Basta-Juzbasić
1Klinika za kozne i spolne bolesti Klinickoga bolnickog centra Zagreb i Medicinskog fakulteta Sveucilista u Zagrebu, Salata 4, 10 000 Zagreb.
Lijecnicki Vjesnik
|February 17, 2006
Summary
Contact allergy to topical glucocorticoids can cause chronic dermatitis that worsens with treatment. Patch testing is recommended for patients unresponsive to these common dermatologic drugs, often revealing allergies to multiple steroids.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Allergology
- Pharmacology
Context:
- Topical glucocorticoids are mainstays in dermatologic treatment.
- Increasing reports link these steroids to contact allergic reactions.
- Allergic reactions can mimic or worsen existing skin conditions.
Purpose:
- To highlight the diagnostic challenge of glucocorticoid contact allergy.
- To emphasize the clinical presentation of glucocorticoid allergy.
- To recommend patch testing for suspected cases.
Summary:
- Contact allergy to glucocorticoids presents as chronic dermatitis refractory to therapy.
- Patch tests frequently identify allergies to multiple glucocorticoids, notably tixocortol pivalate and budesonide.
- Suspect contact allergy in patients with persistent or worsening inflammatory skin disease despite topical glucocorticoid use.
Impact:
- Raises awareness of a critical adverse drug reaction in dermatology.
- Guides clinicians in diagnosing and managing difficult-to-treat skin conditions.
- Promotes appropriate diagnostic testing (patch testing) for glucocorticoid allergy.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Drug Toxicity: Allergic Reactions
Drug-related allergies are immune-mediated responses triggered by the administration of pharmacological agents. These hypersensitivity reactions are classified based on the immune mechanisms involved. The four primary types—Type I, II, III, and IV—are mediated by different immunological pathways and exhibit distinct clinical manifestations.Type I Hypersensitivity/ IgE-Mediated Reactions: Immunoglobulin E (IgE) immediately mediates Type I hypersensitivity reactions. Upon initial exposure to a...
01:12Local Anesthetics: Adverse Effects
While local anesthetics are generally safe and well-tolerated, they can occasionally cause adverse effects that vary in severity. Local anesthetics can induce toxicity at two distinct levels. They can either produce local effects through direct contact with the neural elements or be absorbed into the bloodstream from the injection site, leading to systemic effects.
Once absorbed into the systemic circulation, local anesthetics can affect the organs that depend on the functioning of sodium...
Once absorbed into the systemic circulation, local anesthetics can affect the organs that depend on the functioning of sodium...
01:25Antiasthma Drugs: Inhaled Corticosteroids and Glucocorticoids
Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are anti-inflammatory drugs used primarily in treating persistent asthma and providing long-term maintenance. They target the bronchial mucosa, the lining of the airways, to control inflammation, a critical factor in asthma progression and exacerbation.
ICS work through a multifaceted mechanism of action. They suppress the inflammatory response caused by the proliferation of TH cells. They also reduce the transcription of the IL-2 gene, which is involved in the...
ICS work through a multifaceted mechanism of action. They suppress the inflammatory response caused by the proliferation of TH cells. They also reduce the transcription of the IL-2 gene, which is involved in the...
01:26Cushing Syndrome I: Introduction
Cushing syndrome refers to the collection of clinical manifestations that arise when tissues are exposed to excessive amounts of cortisol or cortisol-like medications over an extended period. Cortisol, a glucocorticoid produced by the adrenal cortex, regulates metabolism, immune responses, and the body’s adaptation to stress. When its concentration remains chronically elevated, these physiological pathways become dysregulated, resulting in the characteristic features of the syndrome.Exogenous...
01:29Hypersensitivity Reactions: Delayed Hypersensitivity Reactions
Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity (DTH), or Type IV hypersensitivity, is a cell-mediated immune response. It occurs when T cells, rather than antibodies, mediate a reaction to specific antigens. It is characterized by a delayed onset (1-2 days) and involves the recruitment of macrophages to the inflammation site.The initiation of a DTH response begins with the sensitization of T cells. During this phase, which lasts at least 1-2 weeks, antigen-specific T cells are activated, clonally expanded, and...
01:19Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology
Cortisol production is normally governed by the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, which maintains hormonal balance through tightly regulated feedback mechanisms. Disruption of this regulatory system is central to the development of Cushing syndrome, whether the excess cortisol originates from external medications or internal pathology. Persistent cortisol elevation alters metabolism, immune function, and endocrine signaling, producing the characteristic clinical features of the...