Skin disorders Description: corticosteroids may trigger adverse skin reactions that usually correspond to one of three types: trophic (skin fragility) -this includes stretch marks, bruises, dry skin, difficulties for healing. (Figure 1-2) infections others : e.g., acne (Figure 3), perioral dermatitis (Figure 4), increased hair growth, depigmentation Frequency: it is hard to estimate [...]
For what conditions? Many diseases are treated with corticosteroids. It would be difficult to include all of them on a single list. For example, when prednisoneentered the market, it concerned the treatment of over a hundred diseases. A study in the UK revealed that the main conditions frequently requiering long term (i.e. > [...]
Who is treated? A study completed in the UK shows that at any moment approximately 1% of the general population is treated with oral corticosteroids through either oral, intravenous or intramuscular administration. This figure does not take into account those patients that have received corticosteroids by other routes of ingestion (e.g. inhalation or [...]
How does it work? Oral corticosteroids are well absorbed by the body after ingestion (80%) and rapidly enter the blood stream (peak blood level is reached 1-2 hours after the dose is taken) Prednisone must be converted into prenisolone by the body in order to function. However, doctors often prescribe prednisone instead of [...]
What is its history? The Role of the Adrenal Glands Since the 1800's scientists have studied the role of the adrenal glands. At that time, Englishman Thomas Addison discovered a fatal disease caused by lesions of these glands, underlining their importance to the human body. Addison's Disease is a condition in which the [...]
Short-term corticosteroid therapy (i.e., a few days or weeks) may be quickly stopped without risk. Long-term therapies must be stopped more gradually in order to minimize the risk of adrenal insufficiency. The dose and duration of treatment will determine the pace at which treatment is stopped. There is no standard timetable. Some consider [...]
Several treatments are frequently associated with corticosteroids when they are prescribed for many weeks or months Treatment to prevent osteoporosis is often prescribed (calcium, vitamin D, and in certain cases, biphosphonates) Some physicians prescribe a preventive treatment with potassium supplementation. Patients who report stomach pain after using cortisone mais receive an antiulcer treatment. [...]
Corticosteroids are effective treatments that improve and/or cure a wide range of diseases. However, you can't underestimate the fact that corticosteroids induce a number of side effects that are known to both physicians and patients. Many patients assume that undergoing treatment with corticosteroids means that they risk experiencing side effects. A study showed [...]
What is cortisone ? Above each individual's kidney lies the small, pyramid-shaped adrenal gland. The adrenal gland consists of two parts, each with a specific function. The central part is called the adrenal medulla (or medulla) and the outer portion is called the adrenal cortex (or cortex) These two parts of the gland [...]
A meta-analysis ("pooled" study of all available clinical trial about a topic) published in September 2020 in one of the most prestigious medical journals (JAMA) shows that cortisone given to the sickest patients with Covid-19 (hospitalized patients, with the distress respiratory syndrome) improves survival in these patients. In total, 7 clinical trials were [...]