Comparative Anti-Inflammatory Efficacy of Topically Applied Steroids on Human Skin

Abstract

A new assay procedure for rapidly quantitating the anti-inflammatory potency of steroids on human skin is described and found to give results in good agreement with potencies determined by clinical trial or wide dermatological use. Fluorometholone (6[alpha]-methyl-9[alpha]-fluoro-21-deoxyprednisolone) is estimated to be approximately 40 times as potent as hydrocortisone topically at the clinically useful 1% level. Assay data are interpreted within the framework of the theory of Stetten (Science. 1956, vl24, 365) which permits comparison of steroids with respect to capacity of target organ to bind hormone and affinity of hormone for binding sites.