[Corticoid allergy]

A 50-year-old female patient developed maculopapular exanthema after administration of corticoids on account of a cervical syndrome. Under topical therapy with different corticoids because of an allergic contact eczema, the skin lesions worsened and consecutive oral corticoid therapy again induced maculopapular exanthema. Skin tests revealed an eczematous contact allergy to the stereoisomeric corticoids dexamethasone and beta-methasone, as well as to two salts of these substances. Furthermore, allergies to other ingredients of the vehicles were detected. The various allergic clinical manifestations, the allergologically important corticoids, the test procedures and sensitization conditions are discussed in correlation with the literature.