title: The cutaneous corticosteroid vasoconstriction assay: a reflectance spectroscopic and laser-Doppler flowmetric study.
abstract: Cutaneous vasoconstriction induced by topical corticosteroids was investigated using non-invasive bioengineering techniques. Corticosteroids of different potency in alcoholic solution were applied topically, under occlusion, and cutaneous blanching was investigated using visual scoring, reflectance spectroscopy (RS) and laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF). The RS technique allowed separation of cutaneous haemoglobin content into arterial oxygenated (OH) and venous deoxygenated haemoglobin (DOH) components. Application of alcohol decreased total haemoglobin by 10%, with a corresponding 8% increase in blood flow (BF). Clobetasol propionate was the most potent vasoconstrictor, inducing significant visible blanching and decreasing DOH (30%), OH (33%) and BF (18%) (P < 0.01). Fluocinolone acetonide, betamethasone-17-valerate and dexamethasone also caused visible blanching (P < 0.01). There was no significant decrease in BF, but reflectance spectroscopy showed a decrease in DOH (P < 0.01). Tixocortol, CMJ and hydrocortisone acetate did not produce significant blanching, although DOH was decreased compared with the alcohol control. Measured by reflectance spectroscopy, corticosteroid-induced blanching was predominantly venoconstriction and only the most potent corticosteroid caused a significant decrease in OH and blood flow. This may explain why previous attempts to improve cutaneous vasoconstriction assays using laser-Doppler flowmetry have been unsuccessful.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco 94143-0989.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Milioni
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maibach
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D000438:Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology; D001624:Betamethasone Valerate / Q000494:pharmacology; D002990:Clobetasol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005446:Fluocinolone Acetonide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000438:Alcohols; D006454:Hemoglobins; D005446:Fluocinolone Acetonide; D003907:Dexamethasone; D001624:Betamethasone Valerate; D002990:Clobetasol