🔷 Introduction:

Steroids are a group of hormones produced naturally in the body.

The adrenal cortex consists of 3 zones:

1. Zona Glomerulosa synthesizes Aldosterone, the most potent Mineralocorticoid in humans.
2. Zona Fasciculata – produces hydrocortisone (a glucocorticoid)
3. Zona Reticularis produces Adrenal Androgens

• Glucocorticoid secretion is regulated by ACTH produced in the anterior pituitary. Cortisol has a -ve feedback on ACTH production.

• In Addison diseases, Glucocorticoid secretion impaired & ACTH is ⬆️

🔷 Corticosteroid Action & its regulation

• Glucocorticoid – Hepatic Glycogen deposition
• Mineralocorticoid – Sodium, electrolyte-fluid balance.
• Glucocorticoid play critical role in body’s response to stress.

Stress

⬇️

Release of cytokines (IL-1)

⬇️

⬆️ cortisol levels

🔷 Classification:

🔷 Steroid synthesis:

The substrate for steroid production is cholesterol. It is mobilized from the outer to the inner mitochondrial membrane by the steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein.

🔷 Glucocorticoids:

1) Hydrocortisone

• Action: Anti-allergy, anti-inflammatory

• Therapeutic Uses:

• intralesional injection in dose of 20-50 mg/mL
• Topical application
• Tablet in dose of 100mg/day can be given systemically to relieve burning sensation.
• Tab. Cortisol(25mg) combined with dexamethasone(90mg) can be given at biweekly interval.*

Action: Fibrinolytic,Anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory*

It causes ⬇️ fibroblastic production & deposition of collagen*

• Topical application with orabase
• Intralesional injection of hydrocortisone acetate (25mg/ml)

• Topical application (0.25-0.5%) to the affected area

• Intra-articular injection (25mg/ml)

• 20-30mg/day in divided doses

• Trade Name: CORTEF, ORABASE-HCA

• Preparation:

1. Oral: 5 – 20 mg tab.
2. Topical – 1% eye drop solution; 0.025 nasal drops, 0.25-2.5% skin creams

• Hydrocortisone acetate 25-50 mg/mL for soft tissue suspensions

• Hydrocortisone sodium phosphate: 50mg/mL IV, IM, SC

2) Cortisone:

• Uses:

1. OSMF
2. Addison disease
3. Hodgkin lymphoma

3) Prednisolone:

• Action: Anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive

• Uses:

1. Rheumatoid arthritis: 10mg/day in divided doses
2. Collagen disease: 1mg/kg
3. SLE: IM/IV; Topical application 2-3 times daily
4. Leukemia: ALL as maintenance dose
5. Erythema multiforme, pemphigus, bullous pemphigoid, behchet’s syndrome
6. Bronchial asthma: 40-60 mg
7. Post-herpetic neuralgia
8. Amyloidosis, cyclic neutropenia, purpura

• Trade name: DELTA-CORTEF, PRELONE

4) Triamcinolone:

• Uses:

1. Lichen planus: Topical application 3-4 times daily
2. Erythema multiforme: 40-100 mg/day or inhalation doses
3. Recurrent aphthae: Oral (2-4 mg/day)
4. Desquamative gingivitis, OSMF, contact chelitis – intralesional (2-3 mL/day)

• Trade name: Kenolog cream

5) Dexamethasone:

• Uses:

👉🏻Mainly used for adrenal cortical suppression

• Allergic diseases, serum sickness, urticaria, hay fever, angioneurotic edema: IV; topically 2-4 times a day
• Benign migratory glossitis: Topical application
• Shock, cerebral edema, occular diseases.

• Trade name: DECADRON

6) Betamethasone:

• Action: Anti-allergy, anti-inflammatory

• Uses: Lichen planus, pemphigus, Aphthae ulcer

Dr. Mehnaz Memon🖊

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References: Self Notes, Image chart source: Classification of Drugs with DOC by Vikas Seth (Third Edition)