Corticosteroid
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Corticosteroids, also called adrenal cortex hormones, are steroids mainly produced by the adrenal cortex.
Classification[edit]
There are three major groups of corticosteroids.[1]
17-Ketosteroids[edit]
The 17-Ketosteroids are the sex steroids and are mainly produced in the zona reticularis layer (the innermost layer of the adrenal gland) of the adrenal cortex.
Glucocorticoids[edit]
Glucocorticoids affect carbohydrate metabolism and inflammation are mainly produced in the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex. The naturally occurring glucocorticoids include hydrocortisone (also called cortisol).[2] The normal adult secretes 10 to 20 mg of cortisol per day.[3]
Hydroxycorticosteroids[edit]
The hydroxycorticosteroids are mostly the mineralocorticoids and are mainly produced in the zona glomerulosa layer (the outermost layer of the adrenal gland) of the adrenal cortex.[4] The naturally occurring mineralocorticoids include aldosterone and deoxycorticosterone.
| Anti-inflammatory | Salt-retention | |
|---|---|---|
| Hydrocortisone | 1 | 1 |
| Cortisone | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| Prednisone | 4 | 0.8 |
| Prednisolone | 4 | 0.8 |
| Triamcinolone | 5 | 0 |
| Prednisolone | 5 | 0 |
| Methylprednisolone | 5 | 0 |
| Dexamethasone | 30 | 0 |
| Fludocortisone | 10 | 250 |
| Adapted from Cancer Medicine and US Pharmacist | ||
Therapeutic uses[edit]
Infectious diseases[edit]
Corticosteroids are beneficial in treated selected infections[5]
References[edit]
- ↑ National Library of Medicine. Adrenal Cortex Hormones. Retrieved on 2007-11-27.
- ↑ Rhen T, Cidlowski JA (2005). "Antiinflammatory action of glucocorticoids--new mechanisms for old drugs". N. Engl. J. Med. 353 (16): 1711–23. DOI:10.1056/NEJMra050541. PMID 16236742. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Katzung, Bertram G. (2006). Basic and clinical pharmacology. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical Publishing Division. ISBN 0-07-145153-6.
- ↑ White PC (1994). "Disorders of aldosterone biosynthesis and action". N. Engl. J. Med. 331 (4): 250–8. PMID 8015573. [e]
- ↑ McGee S, Hirschmann J (May 2008). "Use of corticosteroids in treating infectious diseases". Arch. Intern. Med. 168 (10): 1034–46. DOI:10.1001/archinte.168.10.1034. PMID 18504331. Research Blogging.
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