An overview of international clinical trials with halometasone cream.

In international multicentre comparative clinical trials carried out by dermatologists in 717 patients with non-infected acute eczematous dermatoses at 28 trial centres in Austria, Germany, Holland, Switzerland and Yugoslavia, halometasone cream exhibited a very satisfactory therapeutic effect in acute contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, nummular dermatitis and seborrhoeic dermatitis. It yielded 'good' to 'very good' results in 89.7% of the 333 patients treated with halometasone cream. Halometasone cream was significantly more effective than Diproderm, Diprosone and Ultralan creams with respect to the overall success rate, the percentage of patients with 'very good' results and early cures. It proved marginally superior to Halciderm cream in therapeutic efficacy. The onset of therapeutic effect was more rapid in patients treated with halometasone cream than in those on treatment with comparative preparations. Halometasone cream was well tolerated and neither skin atrophy nor any systemic effect due to the transcutaneous systemic absorption of the corticoid was observed. In view of the rapid onset of action, very good efficacy and tolerability, halometasone cream, with agreeable cosmetic and applicatory properties, may be considered as a suitable corticosteroid topical for the treatment of acute eczematous and other corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses.