SummaryThis study was conducted with 16 subjects to determine whether the topical application of betamethasone dipropionate (Diprosone) 0.05 cream, in amounts of 30 or 60 g daily for a period of four weeks, would lead to adrenocortical suppression. Five patients were given 60 g daily, six patients given 30 g daily and five normal subjects 30 g daily. Adrenocortical function was assessed weekly by means of plasma cortisol levels. The results showed that transient adrenocortical suppression may follow the use of betamethasone dipropionate 0.05 cream daily at these dosage levels and this may be a function of heightened absorption in some individuals.It is intended to carry out a further trial using both plasma cortisol determination and insulin‐induced hypoglycaemia as a measure of hypothalamus‐pituitary‐adrenal axis suppression, as it is believed that minor and moderate degrees of adrenal suppression may not become obvious from plasma cortisol determina
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