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High-potency topical corticosteroid comparable to placebo after lower-extremity sclerotherapy

High-potency topical corticosteroid treatment was not significantly different from placebo in patient- and investigator-assessed adverse events and efficacy among patients who had undergone bilateral lower-extremity sclerotherapy, according to recently published study results.

Researchers studied the effects of high-potency topical corticosteroid (TC) applied immediately postsclerotherapy. Sixteen women were randomly assigned to a single application of betamethasone dipropionate or placebo saline solutions to the lower extremities immediately after undergoing bilateral lower extremity sclerotherapy with polidocanol between November 2013 and July 2014.

The investigators and the patients evaluated adverse events for each extremity at preapplication (t = 0) and at 15 minutes postapplication (t = 15). The investigators also evaluated adverse events at days 14 and 60.

A quartile improvement scale was used by patients and the investigator to measure efficacy.

Adverse events were not statistically different between the topical corticosteroid and placebo treatments at either t = 0 and t = 15, according to patient reports. Erythema and swelling/urtication investigator scores did not differ significantly between the two treatment groups at the time points.

There was no significant difference in efficacy between the two treatments at day 14 (1.13 ± 0.34 for both) or day 60 (2.25 ± 0.77 for both), according to the blinded investigator findings. Investigator-assessed efficacy scores had significant improvement between day 14 and day 60 for both treatment arms (P < .0001), with patients showing 26% to 75% improvement. Patient-evaluated efficacy scores also didn’t show significant differences between the treatment extremities, with similar improvement scores.

“Application of a high-potency [topical corticosteroid] immediately after sclerotherapy of lower extremity reticular and telangiectatic veins produced no statistically significant difference in subject- and investigator-assessed [adverse events], and clearance rates compared with placebo,” the researchers reported. “Nearly all of the [adverse events] were transient and minimal to mild in severity, resolving without the need for additional therapy.” – By Bruce Thiel

Disclosure: Friedman reports being a consultant for and having received research support from Merz Aesthetics. Please see the study for a full list of other researchers’ relevant financial disclosures.