[Disorders of steroid metabolism in inflammatory skin diseases]

The corticosteroid and androgen metabolites in the urine of 37 test subjects (11 healthy volunteers, 16 patients with eczema, and 10 patients with psoriasis) were investigated by means of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. In addition, we studied the cortisol and testosterone levels in the plasma by radioimmunoassay. Those patients who had been treated with corticosteroids during the last two weeks were excluded. Our findings revealed that the excretion rate of steroid metabolites was significantly reduced in dermatological patients. The excretion rate of corticosteroids in urine was decreased an average of 25% (eczema) and 29% (psoriasis). The reduction of the androgen metabolites amounted to 26% and 31%. Cortisol and testosterone levels in the plasma were normal in all the cases.