Corticosteroid



 

Corticosteroids are a class of electrolyte levels, and behavior.

  • phospholipid release, decreasing eosinophil action and a number of other mechanisms.
  • aldosterone control electrolyte and water levels, mainly by promoting sodium retention in the kidney.

Some common natural hormones are corticosterone (C21H30O4), cortisone (C21H28O5, 17-hydroxy-11-dehydrocorticosterone) and aldosterone.

Synthesis

  The corticosteroids are synthesized from adrenodoxin as a cofactor (except 21-hydroxylase and 17α-hydroxylase).

aldosterone) or by the 11β-hydroxylase (for corticosterone). These enzymes are nearly identical (they share 11β-hydroxylation and 18-hydroxylation functions). But aldosterone synthase is also able to perform an 18-oxidation. Moreover, aldosterone synthase is found within the zona glomerulosa at the outer edge of the adrenal cortex; 11β-hydroxylase is found in the zona fasciculata and reticularis.

Uses

Synthetic drugs with corticosteroid-like effect are used in a variety of conditions, ranging from brain tumors to skin diseases. Fludrocortisone (Florinef®) is a synthetic mineralocorticoid. Hydrocortisone (cortisol) is available for replacement therapy, e.g. in adrenal insufficiency and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Synthetic glucocorticoids are used in the treatment of joint pain or inflammation (arthritis), temporal arteritis, dermatitis, allergic reactions, asthma, hepatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease), sarcoidosis and for glucocorticoid replacement in Addison's disease or other forms of adrenal insufficiency. Topical formulations for treatment of skin, eye diseases (uveitis) or inflammatory bowel disease are available. Corticosteroids are also used supportively to prevent nausea, often in combination with 5-HT3 antagonists (e.g. ondansetron).

Typical metabolic alkalosis and connective tissue weakness (Werner, 2005).

Clinical and experimental evidence indicates that corticosteroids can cause permanent eye damage by inducing central serous retinopathy (CSR, also known as central serous chorioretinopathy, CSC). A variety of steroid medications, from anti-allergy nasal sprays (Nasonex, Flonase) to topical skin creams, to eye drops (Tobradex), to Prednisone have been implicated in the development of CSR.

History

Tadeusz Reichstein together with cortisone.

Corticosteroids have been used as a drug treatment for some time. Lewis Sarett of leukotrienes was fully understood in the early 1980s. These steroids help people with muscle problems.

References

Werner R (2005). A massage therapist's guide to Pathology. 3rd edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Pennsylvania, USA.

See also

v • d • e
Corticosteroids - Ulobetasol
v • d • e
Antihistamines
 
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Corticosteroid". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.