Hazards of steroid therapy in hepatic failure.

Three patients with extensive skin disease and liver failure are described. Two were treated with large amounts of topical corticosteroids and one with a small oral dose of betamethasone. The former two patients developed Addisonian crises when they failed to apply the topical steroids and all three patients developed aseptic necrosis of bone. This report emphasizes that the hazards of steroid therapy may be increased in patients with hepatic failure.