Contact sensitization to corticosteroids: increased risk in long term dermatoses

Patients affected by chronic dermatoses are at high risk for the development of sensitization to corticosteroids. This study was carried out to evaluate contact hypersensitivity to corticosteroids in a selected group of patients affected by longlasting cutaneous dermatoses. Sixty subjects underwent the GIRDCA series. The Italian GIRDCA series we applied had the following substances in addition to the European standard series: Imidazolidinyl urea 2% pet, thiomersal 0.1% pet, disperse yellow 31% pet, disperse red 1% pet, 4'4-diaminodiphenylmethane 0.5% pet, ammoniated mercury 1% pet. The patients were tested with our corticosteroids series and some of them also with their own steroid products. Allergic reactions to corticosteroids were observed in 8/60 (13.3%) patients; budesonide was the main sensitizer (7 positives) followed by hydrocortisone-17-butyrate and betamethasone-17-valerate (2 and 1 positives, respectively). One patient also reacted to methylprednisolone aceponate contained i...