Prednicarbate (Dermatop®): A review

September 2004 | Volume 3 | Issue 5 | Journal Article | 553 | Copyright © September 2004


Aditya K. Gupta MD PhD FRCP (C), Melody Chow HBSc

Abstract
Prednicarbate is a non-halogenated, double-ester derivative of prednisolone that has become of interest for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases, for example atopic dermatitis. In the past, topical steroids have been a popular choice for treating these diseases; however, the potential for significant local and systemic adverse events, such as skin atrophy and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression have limited their use. Prednicarbate has been found to have a favorable benefit-risk ratio, with low skin atrophy potential, and a high anti-inflammatory action. Prednicarbate may be particularly advantageous when used intermittently in pediatric and elderly patients.