%0 Journal Article %A Patrícia Trindade %A Alice Gelpi %A Ana Salgado %A Joana Marto %A Paula Machado %A Dinis Mateus %A Humberto Gonçalves %A M Fernanda Sachse %A António Melo Gouveia %A Helena Ribeiro %T Betamethasone dipropionate compounding for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma management %D 2018 %R 10.1136/ejhpharm-2016-001052 %J European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy %P 43-47 %V 25 %N 1 %X Background Primary cutaneous lymphomas (extranodular non-Hodgkin lymphomas) are rare (incidence 1:100 000). Mycosis fungoides is the most common cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) subtype. Treatment options are based on the diagnosis and the stage of the disease. Skin-directed therapies are useful for the initial stages and include topical treatments such as corticosteroids. Betamethasone dipropionate (BD) is a synthetic glucocorticoid with high anti-inflammatory activity, potency and immunosuppressant effects. It is used for topical treatment of CTCL within the following dosage 0.025–0.1% (w/w). In the Portuguese market only one topical cream contains BD at 0.05% (w/w).Objectives To develop a new and stable emulsion containing 0.1% of BD.Methods To accomplish this aim, development, stability, in vitro release and clinical studies of a new topical water-in-oil emulsion containing BD 0.1% w/w were assessed for the topical treatment of CTCL.Results The three batches prepared were physically, chemically and microbiologically stable over a period of 90 days. 40% of BD was released over 6 hours and evaluation of skin lesions showed a favourable clinical effect (less itching, less infiltration, fewer patches and a reduced area of plaque).Conclusions The clinical results show the effective cutaneous improvement of skin barrier conditions during the study. %U https://ejhp.bmj.com/content/ejhpharm/25/1/43.full.pdf