[Percutaneous absorption of triamcinolone 16 alpha, 17 alpha cyclopentylene-dioxy-21-acetate (author's transl)]

The authors try to estimate the percutaneous absorption of a new corticosteroid, derived from triamcinolone: Amcinonide, which is presented as a cream and 0.1% ointment. The study was carried out on 13 patients; cream was applied to 5 of them under occlusive dressings during 48 h, 4 other had ordinary topical applications of the cream, and the 4 remaining patients were treated with the ointment. The parameters studied were 17-ketosteroids and 17-hydroxysteroids in the 24-hour urine, daily sodium and potassium urinary elimination, plasma cortisol levels and ACTH stimulation test before and after treatment. Only extensive occlusive plastic dressings (50--90% of the body area) lead to a temporary decrease in the activity of the pituitary adrenal system (lowering of the 17-hydroxysteroids in the 24-hour urine in all patients, lowering of the normal adrenocortical response after stimulation with exogenous ACTH in 1 patient). On the other hand, the elimination of urinary ions is not significantly modified. With ordinary topical application of cream or ointment no systemic effect could be observed.