[Pharmacological study on hydrocortisone 17-butyrate 21-propionate (author's transl)]

The topical and systemic anti-inflammatory activities of hydrocortisone 17-butyrate 21-propionate (HBP) were studied. The systemic anti-inflammatory activities of HBP and reference steroids were examined for their effects on dinitrochlorobenzene dermatitis, carrageenin edema, cotton pellet granuloma and adjuvant arthritis in rats and by the delayed allergic edema test in mice. The topical anti-inflammatory activities of these steroids were examined for their effects on croton oil dermatitis, croton oil ear edema, carrageenin edema and cotton pellet granuloma in rats. Furthermore, effects of these steroids on liver glycogen deposition in mice, thymolysis, and decrease of serum corticosterone level in rats were examined. Systemically administered HBP was less potent than betamethasone 17-valerate (BV), but was almost equal to hydrocortisone 17-butyrate (HB) in anti-inflammatory activity, and its effects on liver glycogen deposition, thymolysis, and the decrease of serum corticosterone level. However, the topical anti-inflammatory activity of HBP was more potent than that of BV and HB, although in the same experiment, thymolytic activity of HBP was less potent than that of BV, but was almost equal to HB. The inhibitory effect of HBP on hypotonic induced hemolysis was weaker than that of BV, but was stronger than that of HB in vitro. The affinity of HBP was higher than that of BV and HB to polymorphonuclear leucocytes used as the inflammatory cells in vitro. On the other hand no marked difference was observed in the affinity to erythrocytes used as the non-inflammatory cells in vitro. These results suggest that HBP is a useful drug which has superior topical anti-inflammatory activity, but has a weak systemic effect.