Abstract
The biochemistry and pharmacology of corticosteroids are reviewed as related to their clinical use, inclusive of head and neck disease. Complications and their management are discussed, as is a dosage regimen considered useful for most patients. Alternate-day corticosteroid therapy is stressed, especially in the long-term management of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Axelrod L (1976) Glucocorticoid therapy. Medicine 55:39–49
Baylink D (1983) Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. N Engl J Med 309:306–308
Brwen D, Fauci A (1988) Adrenal corticosteroids. In: Gallin J, Goldstein I, Snydennan R (eds) Inflammation: basic principles and clinical correlates. Raven Press, New York, pp 877–895
Brown HM, Storey G, Jackson FA (1977) Beclomethasone dipropionate aerosol in treatment of perennial and seasonal rhinitis: a review of five years' experience. Br J Clin Pharmacol 4 [Suppl 3]:283S-286S
Chavassieux P, Pastoureau P, Chapuy MC, Delmas PD, Meunier PJ (1993) Glucocorticoid-induced inhibition of osteoblastic bone formation in ewes: a biochemical and histomorphometric study. Osteoporos Int 3:97–102
Christy N (1992) Pituitary-adrenal function during corticosteroid therapy: learning to live with uncertainty. N Engl J Med 326:266–267
Cupps T, Edgar L, Thomas C, Fauci A (1984) Multiple mechanisms of B cell immunoregulation in man after administration of in vivo corticosteroids. J Immunol 132:170–175
Danowski T, Bonessi J, Sabeh G, Sutton R, Webster M, Sarver M (1964) Probabilities of pituitary-adrenal responsiveness after steroid therapy. Ann Intern Med 61:11–15
Dykman TR, Gluck OS, Murphy WA, Hahn TJ, Hahn BH (1985) Evaluation of factors associated with glucocorticoid-induced osteopenia in patients with rheumatic diseases. Arthritis Rheum 28:361–381
Fauci A (1978) Alternate-day corticosteroid therapy. Am J Med 64:729–731
Fauci A, Dale D, Balow J (1976) Glucocorticosteroid therapy: mechanisms of action and clinical considerations. Ann Intern Med 84:304–315
Frey F (1987) Kinetics and dynamics of prednisolone. Endocr Rev 8:453–473
Gustavson L, Benet L (1985) Pharmacokinetics of natural and synthetic glucocorticoids. In: Anderson D, Winter J (eds) The adrenal cortex. Butterworth, Stoneham, Mass., pp 235–279
Lebovics RS, Hoffman GS, Leavitt RY, Kerr GS, Travis WD, Kammerer W, etal (1992) The management of subglottic stenosis in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis. Laryngoscope 102:1341–1345
LoCascio V, Bonucci E, Imbimbo B, Ballanti P, Adami S, Milani S, etal (1990) Bone loss in response to long-term glucocorticoid therapy. Bone Miner 8:39–51
Lukert B, Raisz L (1990) Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis: pathogenesis and management. Ann Intern Med 112:352–364
Lund B, Storm TL, Lund B, Melsen F, Mosekilde L, Andersen RB, et al (1985) Bone mineral loss, bone histomorphometry and vitamin D metabolism in patients with rheumatoid arthritis on long-term glucocorticoid treatment. Clin Rheumatol 4:143–151
Mabry RL (1992) Corticosteroids in the management of upper respiratory allergy: the emerging role of steroid nasal sprays. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 107:855–859
Messer J, Reitman D, Sacks H, Smith H, Chalmers T (1983) Association of adrenocorticosteroid therapy and peptic ulcer disease. N Engl J Med 309:21–25
Mygind N (1977) Effects of beclomethasone dipropionate aerosol on nasal mucosa. Br J Clin Pharmacol 4 [Suppl 3]: 283S-286S
Nichols T, Nugent C, Tyler F (1965) Diurnal variation in suppression of adrenal function by glucocorticoids. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 25:343–347
Poynter D (1977) Beclomethasone dipropionate aerosol and nasal mucosa. Br J Clin Pharmacol 4 [Suppl 3]:295S-301S
Product information for Beconase inhalation aerosol (1993) Glaxo Inc. Data on file
Ruegsegger P, Medici TC, Anliker M (1983) Corticosteroid-induced bone loss. A longitudinal study of alternate day therapy in patients with bronchial asthma using quantitative computed tomography. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 25:615–201
Sambrook P, Birmingham J, Kelly P, Kempler M, Nguyen T, Stat M, et al (1993) Prevention of corticosteroid osteoporosis: a comparison of calcium, calcitriol, and calcitonin. N Engl J Med 328:1747–1752
Schlaghecke R, Kornely E, Santen RT, Ridderskamp P (1992) The effect of long-term glucocorticoid therapy on pituitaryadrenal responses to exogenous corticotropin-releasing hormone. N Engl J Med 326:226–230
Staples PJ, Gerding DN, Decker JL, Gordon RJ (1974) Incidence of infection in systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum 17:1–10
Thorn G (1966) Clinical considerations in the use of corticosteroids. N Engl J Med 274:775
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Talar-Williams, C., Sneller, M.C. Complications of corticosteroid therapy. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 251, 131–136 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00181824
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00181824