Corticosteroids

Glucocorticoids

Pharmacological/Physiological actions of Glucocorticoids

Hormonal Replacement Therapy:

 Hormones are administered as a supplement to meat out deficiency of hormone in the body. They are used as a substitute for naturally occurring hormones. They are used to treat disease developed due to hormone deficiency.

·         Acute adrenal insufficiency: It is also known as an adrenal crisis. It may be due to untreated Addison's disease, bleeding from the adrenal gland, the sudden stop of glucocorticoids administration. Adrenal crisis is a life-threatening situation and it requires immediate medical attention. Cortisol is administered by IV route to treat adrenal crisis

·         Primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s disease): Adrenal cortex dysfunction, adrenal surgery, adrenal cortex lesion causes Addison's disease. Failure to treat Addison's disease may cause the death of a patient. It is treated with hydrocortisone.

·         Secondary and tertiary adrenal insufficiency: Defect in adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) production from pituitary gland inhibits release of corticoids hormone synthesis and release from the adrenal gland. This is called secondary adrenal insufficiency. The defect in the release of corticotrophin release hormone from the hypothalamus that inhibits synthesis and release of corticoids hormone from adrenal gland is called tertiary adrenal insufficiency. These can be treated with hydrocortisone.

·         Cushing’s syndrome: Hypersecretion of glucocorticoids causes Cushing’ syndrome. It is mainly due to excessive release of corticotropin from the anterior pituitary gland and adrenal tumors. Synthetic glucocorticoids administration suppresses the release of corticotropin from the anterior pituitary gland. It does not suppress the release of corticotrophin from an adrenal tumor. It does not suppress adrenal tumor release of corticotrophin hormone.

·         Congenital adrenal hyperplasia: Enzymes are used to synthesize adrenal hormones. A defect in the synthesis of any one enzyme causes congenital adrenal hyperplasia. It is treated by corticosteroid administration.

  

              NON-Endocrinal Diseases Treatment