Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function in children with atopic dermatitis treated with clobetasone butyrate and its clinical evaluation.

Twenty-nine patients with symmetrical eczematous lesions were treated with 0.05% clobetasone butyrate cream. Clinical conditions and cortisol and ACTH concentrations were evaluated at the beginning and after 1 week in 12 children and after 2 weeks of treatment in 17 patients respectively. The lesions and symptoms improved steadily and no significant change in cortisol and ACTH plasma levels was observed throughout the study in all children. This steroid offers clinically effective topical antiinflammatory activity with a wide margin of safety.