The cutaneous corticosteroid vasoconstriction assay: a reflectance spectroscopic and laser-Doppler flowmetric study

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Abstract
Cutaneous vasoconstriction induced by topical corticosteroids was investigated using non-invasive bioengineering techniques. Corticosteroids of different potency in alcoholic solution were applied topically, under occlusion, and cutaneous blanching was investigated using visual scoring, reflectance spectroscopy (RS) and laser-DoppIer flowmetry (LDF), The RS technique allowed separation of cutaneous haemoglobin content into arterial oxygenated (OH) and venous deoxygen-ated haemoglobin (DOH) components. Application of alcohol decreased total haemoglobin by 10%, with a corresponding 8% increase in blood flow (BF). Clobetasol propionate was the most potent vasoconstrictor, inducing signiflcant visible blanching and decreasing DOH (30%), OH (33%) and BF (18%) (PPP<0.01). Tixocortol, CMJ and hydrocortisone acetate did not produce signiflcant blanching, although DOH was decreased compared with the alcohol control. Measured by reflectance spectroscopy, corticosteroid-induced blanching was predominantly venoconstriction and only the most potent corticosteroid caused a significant decrease in OH and blood flow. This may explain why previous attempts to improve cutaneous vasoconstriction assays using laser-Doppler flowmetry have been unsuccessful.