title: Topical retinoic acid does not alter the vasoconstrictive properties of topical corticosteroids in humans.
abstract: Dermo-epidermal atrophy is one of the main side effects of long-term treatment with topical corticosteroids. Retinoic acid may prevent and even reverse these effects in animals. Extension of this concept to therapy in humans implies that several studies have been performed; among others, it has to be established that treatment with topical retinoic acid does not interfere with the anti-inflammatory action of topical corticosteroids. The present study on the cutaneous vasoconstriction test comprised two different double-blind approaches: (i) vasoconstriction tests with betamethasone dipropionate (Diprolene) and clobetasone butyrate (Emovate) were carried out on skin that had previously been treated for 10 days with retinoic acid 0.01, 0.025 or 0.05% (or excipient); (ii) vasoconstriction tests with a combination of triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% and retinoic acid 0.025% were compared with triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% alone. Pretreatment for 10 days with retinoic acid did not alter the vasoconstriction induced by corticosteroids: no decrease or increase in the vasoconstriction score was observed, whether the skin had been previously treated with retinoic acid or with excipient. The vasoconstriction scores obtained with a combination of retinoic acid and triamcinolone acetonide were identical with those obtained with the steroid alone. This study indicates that retinoic acid does not inhibit the vasoconstriction induced by topical corticosteroids and suggests that the anti-inflammatory effect of the latter should be maintained in association with retinoic acid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hôpital cantonal, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmied
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Saurat
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002990:Clobetasol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014212:Tretinoin; C011175:betamethasone-17,21-dipropionate; C010893:clobetasone butyrate; D001623:Betamethasone; D002990:Clobetasol; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide