Effect of Betamethasone on the Dual Reaction to Anti-Human IgE in Man: Influence of Time Interval between Administration of Drug and Anti-IgE

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Abstract
The influence of the time interval between administration of a glucocorticoid, betamethasome, and anti-IgE on the effect of the drug on the early and late phase response (LPR) to anti-IgE was examined in 38 volunteers in a randomized controlled study. The immediate flare and wheal responses to intradermally (i.d.) injected anti-IgE were inhibited by approximately 20 and 30% respectively by a 10 day i.d. pretreatment period with repeated 50 .mu.g doses (total 300 .mu.g) of betamethasone (P < 0.01), whereas responses to histamine were not influenced. A single i.d. injection of 50 .mu.g betamethasone 24 h prior to anti-IgE challenge attenuated the wheal response (P < 0.05), whereas injection of the drug 2 h prior to and together with anti-IgE had no influence on the early response. Corresponding LPRs were reduced approximately 30% throughout the observation period of 1-24 h (P < 0.01). Injecting the drug i.d. 30 min following anti-IgE challenge had no significant influence on the total observation period (1-24 h) of the LPR but antagonized the LPR by 35% at 6-24 h (P < 0.01). It is concluded that glucocorticoids inhibit IgE-dependent LPRs. When extending the topical pretreatment period with the compounds also the early part of the allergic reaction is attenuated.