Comparison of the cutaneous/systemic antiinflammatory activity ratios for desonide and hydrocortisone in various experimental models

The ratios of antiinflammatory activity after oral administration (oral ED50/cutaneous ED50) for desonide (Locapred) and hydrocortisone (hydrocortisone acetate) were compared in various nonimmunological and immunological experimental models on mouse ears: edema induced by croton oil; primary irritation due to picryl chloride; the acute phase (6 h) and the beginning of the chronic phase (24 h) of inflammation due to cantharidin; delayed contact hypersensitivity to picryl chloride; and the semi-delayed (6 h) and delayed (24 h) phases of contact hypersensitivity to oxazolone. These investigations showed that, besides having a better antiinflammatory effect, desonide had a better ratio of local activity to systemic effect in all the models. In addition, by contrast with orally active doses, locally active doses did not induce any thymolytic effect. Such results were confirmed in rats in which desonide reduced 24 h carrageenin abscess after cutaneous application without any significant thymolytic effect. Hydrocortisone was inactive.