5.1 Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis Suppression and Other Adverse Endocrine Effects

Topical corticosteroids, including fluticasone propionate ointment, 0.005%, can produce reversible HPA axis suppression with the potential for clinical glucocorticoid insufficiency. Factors that predispose to HPA axis suppression include large treatment surface areas, prolonged use, use under occlusion, altered skin barrier, liver failure, and young age. Cushing’s syndrome, hyperglycemia, and unmasking of latent diabetes mellitus can also result from systemic absorption of topical corticosteroids.

If HPA axis suppression is suspected, gradually withdraw the drug, reduce the frequency of application, or substitute with a less potent corticosteroid. An ACTH stimulation test may be helpful in evaluating patients for HPA axis suppression.

Pediatric patients may be at greater risk of HPA axis suppression due to their higher skin surface area to body mass ratios [ see Usein Specific Populations ( 8.4) ].

HPA axis suppression may occur during or after withdrawal of treatment. If HPA axis suppression is suspected, gradually withdraw the drug, reduce the frequency of application, or substitute with a less potent corticosteroid. Evaluation of HPA axis suppression may be done by using the cosyntropin stimulation test.

5.2 Local Adverse Reactions

Fluticasone propionate ointment, 0.005% may cause local adverse reactions, including skin atrophy [ see Adverse Reactions( 6.1, 6.2) ]. The risk is greater with use under occlusion.

5.3 Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis with topical corticosteroids is usually diagnosed by observing failure to heal rather than noting a clinical exacerbation. Such an observation can be corroborated with appropriate diagnostic patch testing. Discontinue fluticasone propionate ointment, 0.005% if appropriate.

5.4 Skin Infections

If concomitant skin infections are present or develop, use an appropriate antimicrobial. If a favorable response does not occur promptly, discontinue use of fluticasone propionate ointment, 0.005% until the infection has been adequately controlled.

6.1 Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

In controlled clinical trials, the total incidence of adverse reactions associated with the use of fluticasone propionate ointment, 0.005% was approximately 4%. These adverse reactions were usually mild, self-limiting, and consisted primarily of pruritus, burning, hypertrichosis, increased erythema, urticaria, irritation, and lightheadedness. Each of these events occurred individually in less than 1% of patients.

6.2 Postmarketing Experience

The following local adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of fluticasone propionate ointment, 0.005%: acneiform dermatitis, edema, rash, hypoaesthesia, pustular psoriasis, skin atrophy.

The following systemic adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of fluticasone propionate cream and fluticasone propionate ointment, 0.005%: immunosuppression/ Pneumocystis jiroveciipneumonia/leukopenia/thrombocytopenia; hyperglycemia/glycosuria; Cushing syndrome; generalized body edema/blurred vision; and acute urticarial reaction (edema, urticaria, pruritus, and throat swelling).

The following local adverse reactions have also been reported with the use of topical corticosteroids: telangiectasia, striae, dryness, folliculitis, hypopigmentation, perioral dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, secondary infection, and miliaria.

Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

8.1 Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category C

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Therefore, fluticasone propionate ointment, 0.005% should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Systemic embryofetal development studies were conducted in mice, rats and rabbits.

Subcutaneous doses of 15, 45 and 150 μg/kg/day of fluticasone propionate were administered to pregnant female mice from gestation days 6 to 15. A teratogenic effect characteristic of corticosteroids (cleft palate) was noted after administration of 45 and 150 μg/kg/day (less than the MRHD in adults based on body surface area comparisons) in this study. No treatment related effects on embryofetal toxicity or teratogenicity were noted at 15 μg/kg/day (less than the MRHD in adults based on body surface area comparisons).

Subcutaneous doses of 10, 30 and 100 μg/kg/day of fluticasone propionate were administered to pregnant female rats in two embryofetal development studies (one study administered fluticasone propionate from gestation days 6 to 15 and the other study from gestation days 7 to 17). In the presence of maternal toxicity, fetal effects noted at 100 μg/kg/day (less than the MRHD in adults based on body surface area comparisons) included decreased fetal weights, omphalocele, cleft palate, and retarded skeletal ossification. No treatment related effects on embryofetal toxicity or teratogenicity were noted at 10 μg/kg/day (less than the MRHD in adults based on body surface area comparisons).

Subcutaneous doses of 0.08, 0.57 and 4 μg/kg/day of fluticasone propionate were administered to pregnant female rabbits from gestation days 6 to 18. Fetal effects noted at 4 μg/kg/day (less than the MRHD in adults based on body surface area comparisons) included decreased fetal weights, cleft palate and retarded skeletal ossification. No treatment related effects on embryofetal toxicity or teratogenicity were noted at 0.57 μg/kg/day (less than the MRHD in adults based on body surface area comparisons).

Oral doses of 3, 30 and 300 μg/kg/day fluticasone propionate were administered to pregnant female rabbits from gestation days 8 to 20. No fetal or teratogenic effects were noted at oral doses up to 300 μg/kg/day (less than the MRHD in adults based on body surface area comparisons) in this study. However, no fluticasone propionate was detected in the plasma in this study, consistent with the established low bioavailability following oral administration.

Fluticasone propionate crossed the placenta following administration of a subcutaneous or an oral dose of 100 μg/kg tritiated fluticasone propionate to pregnant rats.

8.3 Nursing Mothers

Systemically administered corticosteroids appear in human milk and can suppress growth, interfere with endogenous corticosteroid production, or cause other untoward effects. It is not known whether topical administration of corticosteroids could result in sufficient systemic absorption to produce detectable quantities in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when fluticasone propionate ointment, 0.005% is administered to a nursing woman.

8.4 Pediatric Use

The safety and effectiveness of fluticasone propionate ointment, 0.005% have not been established in pediatric patients. Use of fluticasone propionate ointment, 0.005% in pediatric patients is not recommended.

Because of a higher ratio of skin surface area to body mass, pediatric patients are at a greater risk than adults of systemic effects when treated with topical drugs. They are, therefore, also at greater risk of HPA axis suppression and adrenal insufficiency upon the use of topical corticosteroids [ see Warnings andPrecautions ( 5.1) ].

In a trial of 35 pediatric subjects treated with fluticasone propionate ointment, 0.005% for atopic dermatitis over at least 35% of body surface area, subnormal adrenal function was observed with cosyntropin stimulation testing at the end of 3 to 4 weeks of treatment in 4 subjects who had normal testing prior to treatment. It is not known if these subjects had recovery of adrenal function because follow-up testing was not performed. The decreased responsiveness of cosyntropin testing was not correlated to age of subject, amount of fluticasone propionate ointment used, or serum levels of fluticasone propionate.

In the above trial, telangiectasia on the face was noted in one subject on the eighth day of a 4-week treatment period. Facial use was discontinued and the telangiectasia resolved.

HPA axis suppression, Cushing’s syndrome, linear growth retardation, delayed weight gain, and intracranial hypertension have been reported in pediatric patients receiving topical corticosteroids.

8.5 Geriatric Use

A limited number of patients above 65 years of age (n = 203) have been treated with fluticasone propionate ointment, 0.005% in US and non-US clinical trials. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these subjects and younger subjects, and other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients. However, greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out.

12.1 Mechanism of Action

Corticosteroids play a role in cellular signaling, immune function, inflammation, and protein regulation; however, the precise mechanism of action of fluticasone propionate ointment, 0.005% in corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses is unknown.

12.2 Pharmacodynamics

Vasoconstrictor Assay
Studies performed with fluticasone propionate ointment, 0.005% indicate that it is in the medium range of potency as demonstrated in vasoconstrictor trials in healthy subjects when compared with other topical corticosteroids. However, similar blanching scores do not necessarily imply therapeutic equivalence.

12.3 Pharmacokinetics

Absorption
The extent of percutaneous absorption of topical corticosteroids is determined by many factors, including the vehicle and the integrity of the epidermal barrier. Occlusive dressing enhances penetration. Topical corticosteroids can be absorbed from normal intact skin. Inflammation and/or other disease processes in the skin increase percutaneous absorption.

In a study of 6 healthy subjects applying 25 g of fluticasone propionate ointment 0.005% twice daily to the trunk and legs for up to 5 days under occlusion, plasma levels of fluticasone ranged from 0.08 to 0.22 ng/mL.

Distribution
The percentage of fluticasone propionate bound to human plasma proteins averaged 91%. Fluticasone propionate is weakly and reversibly bound to erythrocytes. Fluticasone propionate is not significantly bound to human transcortin.

Metabolism
No metabolites of fluticasone propionate were detected in an in vitro study of radiolabeled fluticasone propionate incubated in human skin homogenate.

Fluticasone propionate is metabolized in the liver by cytochrome P450 3A4-mediated hydrolysis of the 5-fluoromethyl carbothioate grouping. This transformation occurs in 1 metabolic step to produce the inactive 17-β-carboxylic acid metabolite, the only known metabolite detected in man. This metabolite has approximately 2,000 times less affinity than the parent drug for the glucocorticoid receptor of human lung cytosol in vitro and negligible pharmacological activity in animal studies. Other metabolites detected in vitro using cultured human hepatoma cells have not been detected in man.

13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

In an oral (gavage) mouse carcinogenicity study, doses of 0.1, 0.3 and 1 mg/kg/day fluticasone propionate were administered to mice for 18 months. Fluticasone propionate demonstrated no tumorigenic potential at oral doses up to 1 mg/kg/day (less than the MRHD in adults based on body surface area comparisons) in this study.

In a dermal mouse carcinogenicity study, 0.05% fluticasone propionate ointment (40 μl) was topically administered for 1, 3 or 7 days/week for 80 weeks. Fluticasone propionate demonstrated no tumorigenic potential at dermal doses up to 6.7 μg/kg/day (less than the MRHD in adults based on body surface area comparisons) in this study.

Fluticasone propionate revealed no evidence of mutagenic or clastogenic potential based on the results of five in vitro genotoxicity tests (Ames assay, E. coli fluctuation test, S. cerevisiae gene conversion test, Chinese hamster ovary cell chromosome aberration assay and human lymphocyte chromosome aberration assay) and one in vivo genotoxicity test (mouse micronucleus assay).

No evidence of impairment of fertility or effect on mating performance was observed in a fertility and general reproductive performance study conducted in male and female rats at subcutaneous doses up to 50 μg/kg/day (less than the MRHD in adults based on body surface area comparisons).