Studies on the Percutaneous Absorption of Fludrocortisone

During the past year, new derivatives of hydrocortisone have been made available. One of these compounds, fludrocortisone (9a-fluorohydrocortisone), was first synthesized by Fried and Sabo¹ at the laboratories of the Squibb Institute of Medical Research. It is made by the insertion of the fluorine atom at the 9a position of hydrocortisone acetate. Ointments and lotions containing this drug (hereafter referred to as fludrocortisone) have been evaluated by a number of dermatologists.^* Witten and associates⁴ and Robinson⁵ are the only investigators to date who have published on this subject. It is the consensus that fludrocortisone † is a potent topical therapeutic agent for the treatment of conditions which respond to hydro-cortisone ointment and lotion. It appears that 0.1%-0.25% fludrocortisone ointment and lotion have at least the same degree of therapeutic efficacy as the 1%-2.5% hydrocortisone preparations; for the local treatment of a