ABSTRACT
Dexamethasone base is used as tablet and as elixir for oral use only, which implies that by far most allergic reactions to ‘dexamethasone’ have in fact been the result of sensitization to a salt or ester of dexamethasone or of cross-reactivity to another corticosteroid. It is also likely that there has been confusion in some publications on the correct forms of the drugs used, e.g. that dexamethasone was mentioned where a salt or ester form should have been mentioned. The results of patch testing with dexamethasone in groups of selected patients are shown in table 3.93.1. Low prevalences of sensitization ranging from 0.4% to 1.0% were found with no cases of certain current relevance, i.e. allergic reaction caused by oral dexamethasone. In the period 1990-2008, in Leuven, Belgium, 315 patients were diagnosed with contact allergy to/allergic contact dermatitis from corticosteroids.
