Observations on the Absorption of Oral Betamethasone 17-Valerate and its Therapeutic Value in Ulcerative Colitis

Abstract

It has been suggested that betamethasone 17-valerate is an effective treatment for ulcerative colitis which causes neither adrenal suppression nor other steroid side-effects. However, adrenal suppression was demonstrated in all of six normal subjects taking 8 or 12 mg. daily of the drug by mouth, showing that absorption does occur. In a clinical study of 27 patients with an acute attack of ulcerative colitis the results of treatment with betamethasone 17-valerate 8 mg. daily were disappointing. Adrenal function was studied in 10 of these patients, and in three of them suppression occurred. We conclude that in the dose used in this study oral betamethasone 17-valerate is not a satisfactory treatment for ulcerative colitis. © 1967, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.