corticosteroid

Examples of corticosteroid in the following topics:

• Alopecia

  • In cases where there is severe hair loss, there has been limited success in treating alopecia areata with oral corticosteroids, corticosteroid injections, or corticosteroid cream.

• Adrenal Medulla

  • The adrenal cortex is devoted to the synthesis of corticosteroid and androgen hormones.

• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

  • SLE is treatable using immunosuppression, mainly with cyclophosphamide, corticosteroids, and other immunosuppressants; there is currently no cure.
  • Treatment can include corticosteroids and anti-malarial drugs.
  • Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are used preventively to reduce the incidence of flares, the process of the disease, and lower the need for steroid use; when flares occur, they are treated with corticosteroids.
  • Unlike immunosuppressives and corticosteroids, IVIGs do not suppress the immune system, so there is less risk of serious infections with these drugs.

• Hormonal Regulation of Stress

  • The adrenal cortex is stimulated by ACTH to release steroid hormones called corticosteroids.
  • Corticosteroids turn on transcription of certain genes in the nuclei of target cells.
  • There are two main corticosteroids: glucocorticoids, such as cortisol, and mineralocorticoids, such as aldosterone.
  • Hyposecretion of the corticosteroids can cause Addison's disease, which may result in bronzing of the skin, hypoglycemia, and low electrolyte levels in the blood.

• Adrenal Gland Disorders

  • Causes of acute adrenal insufficiency are mainly Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome, sudden withdrawal of long-term corticosteroid therapy and stress in patients with underlying chronic adrenal insufficiency.
  • The latter is termed critical illness–related corticosteroid insufficiency.

• Adrenal Cortex

  • The adrenal cortex is devoted to the synthesis of corticosteroid and androgen hormones.

• Asthma

  • Symptoms can be prevented by avoiding triggers such as allergens and irritants and by inhaling corticosteroids.
  • Leukotriene antagonists are less effective than corticosteroids and thus less preferred.
  • Cigarette smoking and second-hand smoke (passive smoke) may reduce the effectiveness of management medications such as steroid/corticosteroid therapies.

• Impingement Syndrome

  • Therapeutic injections of corticosteroid and local anaesthetic may be used for persistent impingement syndrome.
  • The total number of injections is generally limited to three due to possible side effects from the corticosteroid.
  • Corticosteroids actually cause musculoskeletal disorders, which explains the low success rate of cortisone injections.

• The Complement System and Heart Disease

  • Therapy will involve intensive cardiac care and immunosuppressives, including corticosteroids, which are helpful in the acute stage of the disease.

• Muscular Atrophy