title: Percutaneous absorption of betamethasone 17-benzoate measured by radioimmunoassay.
abstract: Percutaneous absorption was studied in patients following topical application of betametahsone 17-benzoate cream and gel with occlusion by means of a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay method. Concentrations of betamethasone 17-benzoate in plasma were between 0.3 and 5 ng/ml, indicating approximately 0.05 to 0.3% of the steroid applied to the skin was detected in plasma. Plasma betamethasone 17-benzoate levels increased in proportion to the amount of the steroid applied to the skin. High correlation between plasma betamethasone 17-benzoate levels and percent inhibition of plasma cortisol was also observed. Approximately 3 ng/ml levels of betamethasone 17-benzoate in plasma induced 90% inhibition of plasma cortisol. The data suggest that betamethasone 17-benzoate in gel base was more readily absorbed than in cream base.
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000378:metabolism; D004485:Eczema / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011536:Prurigo / Q000378:metabolism; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000378:metabolism; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012869:Skin Absorption
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D001623:Betamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone