Corticosteroids

1
Corticosteroids

• Joe DiPietro, Ph.D., RRT
• Respiratory Care Programs 99
• RTH 245

2
What are they...

• Naturally produced (hormones)
• Their goal--control certain chemical
  concentrations or certain reactions
• And serving as anti-inflammatory agents

3
Three primary groups of naturallyoccurring
steroids

• Mineral corticoids--maintain water concentrations
  and balance source adrenal cortex Ex
  aldosterone
• Gluco-corticoids--maintain glucose metabolism and
  balance source adrenal cortex Ex cortisol
• Androgenic -- the gender steroids Ex estrogen
  and testosterone

4
The types respiratory care uses

• Prednisone
• Prednisolone
• Solu Medrol
• Solu Cortef

5
Uses of Steroids (Actions)

• Anti-inflammatory agents
• Direct bronchodilators (action unknown)
• Enhancement of the bII response

6
Side Effects

• Fluid retention
• Fat release from bone marrow into blood stream
• Hypertension stroke TIA
• Emboli
• Sleeplessness
• Decreased production of natural steroids

7
Cholesterol is...

• Is a derivative of naturally occurring steroids
• Chemically, it is known as a steryl alcohol
• It is naturally produced as a result of stress
  phenomena this is a protective mechanism

8
Other steroid hormones

• Testosterone
• Estrogen
• Progesterone
• Anabolic steroids

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Other notable side effects

• In women, the use of steroids to prevent
  pregnancy is believed to trigger or cause
• Breast enlargement
• Fluid retention
• Hypertension
• Breast tumors and breast cancer
• Peripheral clot formation and potential embolism
• Heart failure

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Other notable side effects

• Anabolic steroid use to increase muscle mass may
  cause or trigger
• Hypertension
• CHF
• Myocardial infarction
• Malignancies
• Stroke and/or TIAs