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Pharmacologic Characteristics of Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids (CSs) are a class of steroid hormones that are produced and secreted by the adrenal glands in response to pituitary adrenocroticotropic hormone, and regulated by hypothalamic croticotropin releasing hormone. These hormones are responsible for regulating major endocrine system functions, including managing stress and controlling homeostasis. The main CSs produced by the adrenal cortex are cortisol (glucocorticoids) and aldosterone (mineralocorticoids). Aldosterone influences sodium and water balance, while cortisol exerts its effect by preventing the release of inflammation mediators.

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 Pharmacology of corticosteroids

Corticosteroids, so named because their prototype molecules are produced by the adrenal cortex, of which there are two classes... The word "steroid" ("sterol-like") is one of those Greek word roots, so prevalent in medical nomenclature from the earlier 20th century when students of science and medicine were still impressed by Greek and Roman classics as something endowed with an innate dignity and authority. The word originates from "sterol", which in turn comes from the Greek στερεός, meaning "strong" or "stiff".

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Clinical Pharmacology of Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are important therapeutic agents used to treat allergic and inflammatory disorders or to suppress undesirable or inappropriate immune system actions. The term corticosteroid is used clinically to describe agents with glucocorticoid activity. Cortisol is the endogenous glucocorticoid, named for its effects on glucose metabolism but which also exerts the other immunological actions of corticosteroids.

Glucocorticoids vs Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones produced by the adrenal cortex that play diverse physiological roles in the body. They include glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and androgens.

How are glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids different?

There are different classifications of corticosteroids, including glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, both of which are secreted by the adrenal glands, located on top of the kidneys. Although these are naturally produced in our bodies, levels that exceed our natural production are necessary in order to see the anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive effects.

Physiologic and Pharmacologic Effects of Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are key regulators of whole-body homeostasis that provide an organism with the capacity to resist environmental changes and invasion of foreign substances. The effects of corticosteroids are widespread, including profound alterations in carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism, and the modulation of electrolyte and water balance. Corticosteroids affect all of the major systems of the body, including the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, nervous, and immune systems, and play critical roles in fetal development including the maturation of the fetal lung.

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Basic MedicalKey

This chapter considers steroid hormones derived predominantly from the adrenal cortex that are known as adrenal corticosteroids. They have two distinct classes