title: Topical use of caffeine with hydrocortisone in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.
abstract: In a double-blind study, topically applied caffeine 30%-hydrocortisone 0.5% in hydrophilic ointment was compared to betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream and to hydrocortisone 0.5% in hydrophilic ointment. Eighty-three patients were evaluated over a three-week period for pruritus, erythema, scaling, lichenification, excoriation, oozing, and global impression. The betamethasone and caffeine-hydrocortisone groups performed significantly better than the hydrocortisone group on three of the seven scales: lichenification, excoriation, and global impression. Also, the betamethasone group differed significantly from the hydrocortisone group on six of the seven scales, but did not differ significantly from the caffeine-hydrocortisone group on any scale. It is suggested that caffeine is effective because it elevates local levels of cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate by inhibiting phosphodiesterase.
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001624:Betamethasone Valerate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D002110:Caffeine; D001624:Betamethasone Valerate; D006854:Hydrocortisone