Cutaneous adverse effects of inhaled steroids.
(1) Oral steroids can damage the skin. Cutaneous thinning and bruising have also been reported with inhaled steroids. (2) A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial of inhaled triamcinolone in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease provides useful data on the frequency of such effects. (3) The frequency of bruising was 11.2% with the steroid and 3.7% with placebo, while delayed wound healing occurred in respectively 2.4% and 0.5% of patients. These cutaneous adverse effects were dose-dependent and increased with age. (4) The inhaled route does not prevent steroid adverse effects occurring at a distance from the airways. This is one more reason for using the minimal effective dose of inhaled steroids, especially in older patients.
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D017445:Skin Diseases, Vascular / Q000139:chemically induced; D014221:Triamcinolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D014221:Triamcinolone