Clinical Drug Experience Knowledgebase

Alclometasone is synthetic glucocorticoid steroid for topical use. Alclometasone dipropionate cream USP and alclometasone dipropionate ointment USP are indicated for the relief of the inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses. It may be used in pediatric patients 1 year of age or older, although the safety and efficacy of drug use for longer than 3 weeks have not been established. Like other topical corticosteroids, alclometasone dipropionate has anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, and vasoconstrictive properties. The mechanism of the anti-inflammatory activity of the topical steroids, in general, is unclear. However, corticosteroids are thought to act by the induction of phospholipase A2inhibitory proteins, collectively called lipocortins. It is postulated that these proteins control the biosynthesis of potent mediators of inflammation such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes by inhibiting the release of their common precursor, arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid is released from membrane phospholipids by phospholipase A2. Alclometasone initially binds the corticosteroid receptor. This complex migrates to the nucleus where it binds to different glucocorticoid response elements on the DNA. This in turn enhances and represses various genes, especially those involved in inflammatory pathways.   ^NCATS