Diflucortolone valerate (Nerisona): a comparative vasoconstriction test in artificially induced hyperemia of the skin.

In 20 healthy volunteers of both sexes the vasoconstrictive activity of diflucortolone valerate in two of its commercially available formulations (water-in-oil emulsion and pure fat base) was compared with that of four other substances: fluocinonide; betamethasone-17,21-dipropionate; hydrocortisone-17-butyrate; and clobetasol-17-propionate in corresponding galenical formulations. The visual assessment of vasoconstrictive activity after 10 hours revealed a statistically significant superiority of diflucortolone valerate in its fat base over the corresponding galenical formulations of fluocinonide, clobetasol-17-propionate, and hydrocortisone-17-butyrate. Diflucortolone valerate in a water-in-oil emulsion was statistically better after eight hours than the cream formulations of fluocinonide; clobetasol-17-propionate, and betamethasone-17,21-dipropionate.