[Steroid therapy and adrenal function].
Glucocorticoids are frequently used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Their action mimics endogenous glucocorticoid actions by altering the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Therefore, they can be responsible for iatrogenic diseases, particularly if used at high doses and for a long time. The aim of this brief review is to show the main pharmacological characteristics and the endocrine effects of glucocorticoids. The HPA axis insufficiency, related to acute glucocorticoid withdrawal, is also discussed.
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Unità di Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Gastroenterologia, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna. danicota@libero.it
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D000309:Adrenal Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013810:Therapeutic Equivalency
D005938:Glucocorticoids