A multitechnique evaluation of topical corticosteroid treatment.
OBJECTIVE
Corticosteroids are widely prescribed for systemic or local treatment of inflammatory autoimmune disorders. Long-term therapy is associated with side effects and causes cutaneous atrophy of the epidermis and the dermis. The present study aims to evaluate with several noninvasive techniques, the skin modifications observed during corticosteroids treatment. The potential of skin mechanical measurement and ultrasound radio frequency (RF) signal analysis are proposed as new measures more closely related to the functional impairments.


METHODS
Thirteen young healthy women volunteers had two applications per day on one arm of topical Clobetasol propionate 0.05% for 28 days, and they were followed for 28 days more. Skin modifications were studied by high-frequency ultrasound imaging, ultrasound RF signal analysis, optical coherence tomography and by the suction test.


RESULTS
For all the techniques, a statistically significant change is observed with treatment. Large variations, around 30%, are observed for all techniques, but less for ultrasound imaging (10%). Dermis and epidermis thickness presented stable measurements on the nontreated zone. At the end of the study, measures returned to normal. The dynamic is mainly observed within the first 14 days of treatment and within the first 14 days after its cessation.


CONCLUSIONS
Similar dynamics of skin modification during corticosteroid treatment was observed with very different techniques. Moreover, the potential of RF ultrasound analysis and mechanical skin measurement for characterizing skin structural and functional impairments has been evaluated.
Josse
G
G
Pierre Fabre Research Institute, Toulouse, France. gwendal.josse@pierre-fabre.com
Rouvrais
C
C
Mas
A
A
Haftek
M
M
Delalleau
A
A
Ferraq
Y
Y
Ossant
F
F
George
J
J
Lagarde
J M
JM
Schmitt
A M
AM
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D002990:Clobetasol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods*; D013396:Suction; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D002990:Clobetasol