Corticosteroid
Corticosteroids, also called adrenal cortex hormones, are steroids mainly produced by the adrenal cortex.
Classification
There are three major groups of corticosteroids.[1]
17-Ketosteroids
The 17-Ketosteroids are the sex steroids and are mainly produced in the zona reticularis layer (the innermost layer of the adrenal gland) of the adrenal cortex.
Glucocorticoids
Glucocorticoids affect affect carbohydrate metabolism and inflammation are mainly produced in the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex. The naturally occurring glucocorticoids include hydrocortisone (also called cortisol).[2]
Hydroxycorticosteroids
The hydroxycorticosteroids are mostly the mineralocorticoids and are mainly produced in the zona glomerulosa layer (the outermost layer of the adrenal gland) of the adrenal cortex.[3] The naturally occurring mineralocorticoids include aldosterone and deoxycorticosterone.
| Anti-inflammatory | Salt-retention | |
|---|---|---|
| Hydrocortisone | 1 | 1 |
| Cortisone | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| Prednisone | 4 | 0.8 |
| Prednisolone | 4 | 0.8 |
| Triamcinolone | 5 | 0 |
| Prednisolone | 5 | 0 |
| Methylprednisolone | 5 | 0 |
| Dexamethasone | 30 | 0 |
| Fludocortisone | 10 | 250 |
| Adapted from Cancer Medicine and US Pharmacist | ||
References
- ↑ National Library of Medicine. Adrenal Cortex Hormones. Retrieved on 2007-11-27.
- ↑ Rhen T, Cidlowski JA (2005). "Antiinflammatory action of glucocorticoids--new mechanisms for old drugs". N. Engl. J. Med. 353 (16): 1711–23. DOI:10.1056/NEJMra050541. PMID 16236742. Research Blogging.
- ↑ White PC (1994). "Disorders of aldosterone biosynthesis and action". N. Engl. J. Med. 331 (4): 250–8. PMID 8015573. [e]