Síndrome de Cushing iatrogénico en un lactante por uso prolongado de corticoides tópicos: reporte de caso / Iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome in a infant due to prolonged use of topical corticosteroids: case report

INTRODUCCIÓN: El síndrome de Cushing (SC) es una patología endocrinológica por exceso de glucocorticoides, dependiente o independiente de hormona corticotropina (ACTH). La principal causa es iatrógenica por uso excesivo de glucocorticoides. OBJETIVO: Evidenciar la asociación entre uso prolongado de corticoides tópicos y desarrollo de SC. CASO CLÍNICO: Lactante mayor previamente sano, quien recibió tratamiento con corticoides tópicos debido a dermatitis seborreica. Debido a uso prolongado no supervisado, evolucionó con síndrome de Cushing caracterizado por obesidad y compromiso de la velocidad de crecimiento. Se suspendió uso tópico y se inició terapia en dosis de sustitución fisiológica en descenso, logrando mejoría clínica. DISCUSIÓN: Los corticoides tópicos se utilizan ampliamente en la práctica clínica para manejo de patologías dermatológicas. Éstos se encuentran disponibles en diversas presentaciones y potencias. Los principales factores determinantes en su acción son: características de la piel, principio activo del medicamento, potencia y técnica de aplicación, por lo que los efectos adversos se observan con mayor frecuencia ante uso por dermatitis del pañal. El principal efecto adverso del uso prolongado es el desarrollo del síndrome de Cushing, pudiendo prevenirse mediante uso supervisado y descenso progresivo. CONCLUSIÓN: Resulta funda mental el uso racional y cuidadoso de los corticoides tópicos para aprovechar los efectos beneficiosos y evitar la aparición de reacciones adversas.

INTRODUCTION: Cushing's syndrome (CS) is an endocrine disease by to glucocorticoids excess, depen dent or independent of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). The main cause is iatrogenic due to excessive use of glucocorticoids. OBJECTIVE: To show the association between prolonged use of topical corticosteroids and the development of CS. CLINICAL CASE: An infant treated with topical cor ticosteroids due to seborrheic dermatitis. Due to long-term unsupervised use, he develops Cushing's syndrome characterized by obesity and compromised growth rate. Topical use of corticosteroids was discontinued and physiological replacement therapy was initiated with descending doses, achieving clinical improvement. DISCUSSION: Topical corticosteroids are widely used in clinical practice for management of dermatological pathologies. These are available in various presentations with va riable efficiency. The main determining factors in its action are the characteristics of the skin, the active principle of the drug, the potency and application technique, so that the adverse effects are observed more frequently in the use due to diaper dermatitis. The main adverse effect of long-term use is Cushing's syndrome which can be prevented through supervised use and progressive decrease. CONCLUSION: The rational and careful use of topical corticosteroids is essential to take advantage of the beneficial effects and avoid adverse effects.

Preventive Effects of Multi-Lamellar Emulsion on Low Potency Topical Steroid Induced Local Adverse Effect

BACKGROUND: Topical steroid treatment induces diverse local Wand systemic adverse effects. Several approaches have been tried to reduce the steroid-induced adverse effects. Simultaneous application of physiological lipid mixture is also suggested. OBJECTIVE: Novel vehicles for topical glucocorticoids formulation were evaluated for the efficacy of reducing side-effects and the drug delivery properties of desonide, a low potency topical steroid. METHODS: Transcutaneous permeation and skin residual amount of desonide were measured using Franz diffusion cells. The in vivo anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using murine model. RESULTS: Topical steroids formulation containing desonide, in either cream or lotion form, were prepared using multi-lamellar emulsion (MLE), and conventional desonide formulations were employed for comparison. MLE formulations did not affect the anti-inflammatory activity of the desonide in phobol ester-induced skin inflammation model, compared with conventional formulations. While the penetrated amounts of desonide were similar for all the tested formulations at 24 hours after application, the increased lag time was observed for the MLE formulations. Interestingly, residual amount of desonide in epidermis was significantly higher in lotion type MLE formulation. Steroid-induced adverse effects, including permeability barrier function impairment, were partially prevented by MLE formulation. CONCLUSION: Topical desonide formulation using MLE as a vehicle showed a better drug delivery with increased epidermal retention. MLE also partially prevented the steroid-induced side effects, such as skin barrier impairment.

Pseudoceramide-Containing Physiological Lipid Mixture Reduces Adverse Effects of Topical Steroids

PURPOSE: Various therapeutic approaches have been suggested for preventing or reducing the adverse effects of topical glucocorticoids, including skin barrier impairment. Previously, we have shown that impairment of skin barrier function by the highest potency topical glucocorticoid, clobetasol 17-propinate (CP), can be partially prevented by co-application of a physiological lipid mixture containing pseudoceramide, free fatty acids, and cholesterol (multi-lamellar emulsion [MLE]). Skin atrophic effects of CP were also partially reduced by MLE. In this study, the preventive effects of MLE on the lowest potency topical glucocorticoid, hydrocortisone (HC), were investigated using animal models. METHODS: Anti-inflammatory activity of topical HC was evaluated using a 12-O-tetradecanoylphobol-13-acetate-induced skin edema model. Topical steroid induced adverse effects were evaluated using hairless mouse. RESULTS: The results showed that the anti-inflammatory activity was not altered by co-application of either MLE or hydrobase. However, co-application of MLE and 1.0% HC showed less impairment in the epidermal permeability barrier function, skin hydration, and skin surface pH compared with hydrobase. Stratum corneum integrity, evaluated by measuring trans-epidermal water loss after repeated tape stripping, showed less damage with MLE co-application. Long-term application of topical HC induced skin atrophy, measured by a reduction in skinfold and epidermal thickness and in the number of epidermal proliferating cell nucleus antigen (PCNA)-positive keratinocytes. Co-application of MLE did not affect the skinfold or epidermal thickness, but the number of PCNA-positive keratinocytes was less decreased with MLE use. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that co-application of MLE is effective in reducing the local adverse effects of low-potency topical glucocorticoids and supports the therapeutic efficacy of physiological lipid mixtures on skin barrier function.