[Anti-inflammatory effect and tachyphylaxis of systemic and combined systemic-topical treatment with corticosteroids in the pyrexal erythema test].

On account of clinical experience as well as experimental findings, we noticed subsiding anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative effects of topical corticosteroids after regularly repeated application. Following four-day's oral therapy with methylprednisolone 40 mg daily, the pyrexal erythema test did not reveal any decrease of anti-inflammatory effect in six volunteers. The efficacy of this therapy was similar to that of occlusive topical therapy with 0.25% desoxymethasone ointment. The anti-inflammatory effect of systemic steroid treatment could even be slightly increased by additional topical steroid therapy.