Usefulness of Inpatient Treatment for Severe Atopic Dermatitis Demonstrated by Evaluation of Changes in Serum Cortisol Levels

Fukuda Hidetsugu, Suzuki Taku, Sato Yachiyo, Saruya Kanako, Mukai Hideki

doi:10.14924/dermatol.120.2195

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Other Title

重症アトピー性皮膚炎における入院療法の有用性―血中コルチゾール値推移の検討―
ジュウショウアトピーセイヒフエンニオケルニュウインリョウホウノユウヨウセイケッチュウコルチゾールチスイイノケントウ

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Description

Inpatient treatment for severe atopic dermatitis (AD) is useful for achieving rapidly improving dermatological symptoms. However, the effects of the relatively high-dose topical steroids used during hospitalization have not yet been determined. In this study, we measured serum cortisol levels at the times of admission and discharge and evaluated changes in levels. The study included 20 patients with severe AD. The serum cortisol level on admission was low at 3.7±5.7 μg/dl (mean±SD); that at discharge had increased to 11.6±4.4 μg/dl (p<0.05). The lengths of hospital stay ranged from 6 to 29 days. The mean duration of hospitalization required for return to levels above the lower normal limit was estimated to be 4.8 days. The amount of total topical steroids used for inpatient therapy was 8.6±6.3 g/day (groupII) and 4.8±5.8 g/day (group III). Most of the patients who required hospitalization exhibited suppression of adrenocortical function on admission. Of the 16 patients who exhibited levels below the lower limit of normal on admission, all but one exhibited higher levels at discharge. Our findings suggest that inpatient treatment for severe AD may rapidly improve dermatological symptoms and also normalize function of the endocrine system.

Journal

The Japanese Journal of Dermatology

The Japanese Journal of Dermatology 120 (11), 2195-2201, 2010

Japanese Dermatological Association

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