SOME ASPECTS OF THE METABOLISM AND DISPOSITION OF BETAMETHASONE

Abstract

ABSTRACT Following the administration of 4 mg of tritiated betamethasone, with specific activity 75 μc/mg, the concentration of betamethasone and some of its metabolites were measured repeatedly in saliva, plasma and urine. The finding of particular interest was the metabolism of betamethasone within the salivary glands to a steroid provisionally identified as 11-oxobetamethasone. The significance of this finding and of the extra-hepatic metabolism of corticosteroids in general were discussed. Also discussed was the bearing of other findings upon the nature of the factors responsible for a cortisol analogues potency.