Medical Glossary

This glossary contains:
19186
medical terms

Corticosteroids




Corticosteroids

Sometimes referred to just as 'steroids'. Hormones (which occur naturally) which have a variety of actions when given therapeutically. Usually administered for their anti-inflammatory effect. Their use is limited by unwanted side-effects which may sometimes be serious.

RELATED TERMS
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Hormones
Biological compounds that communicate information at a distance. Hormones require specific receptors to begin their biological action and use second messengers to initiate the cellular process that uses that information.



SIMILAR TERMS
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Cort-dome
Cort-dome is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): hydrocortisone.

Cortalone
Cortalone is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): prednisolone.

Cortan
Cortan is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): prednisone.

Cortef
Cortef is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): hydrocortisone.

Cortef acetate
Cortef acetate is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): hydrocortisone acetate.

Cortenema
Cortenema is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): hydrocortisone.

Cortex
The outer layer of the cerebrum, densely packed with nerve cells.

Cortex, adrenal
The outer portion of the adrenal gland located on top of each kidney. The adrenal cortex produces steroid hormones which regulate carbohydrate and fat metabolism and mineralocorticoid hormones which regulate salt and water balance in the body.

Cortical
Having to do with the cortex, the outer portion of an organ.

Cortical Blindness
A person with cortical blindness will have normal eyes and normal optic nerves but, nevertheless, will not be able to see. The cause of the blindness is with the cortex or surface of the brain that contains 32 or more sites for visual information processing. More recently, the preferred term for such individuals is cortical visual impairment, because many people will not be totally blind but will exhibit unusual visual losses; for example, they may be blind to stationary objects but be able to see moving objects.

Cortical blindness
Blindness due to loss or injury to the visual cortex, that section of the cerebral cortex responsible for vision, as through a stroke or traumatic brain damage.

Cortical magnification factor
Defined as millimeters of cortex per degree of visual angle.

Corticaltectal pathway
Pathway from the cortex to the superior colliculi.

Corticoids
Substances similar to the hormone of the adrenal glands called cortisone; corticoids are differentiated into two groups – mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids applied both locally and systemically, mainly as anti-phlogistics, immunosuppressives, anti-asthmathics or in the treatment of an allergy.

Corticosteroid
Hormones produced by the adrenal gland which are important to almost every function of cells and organs. They are divided into two groups: glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. Glucocorticoids regulate protein, carbohydrate, and fat metabolism. Mineralocorticoids regulate electrolyte balances.

Corticosteroid allergy
A delayed allergic reaction to corticosteroid (drugs similar to cortisone). This occurs in 1-4% of people who use corticosteroids for asthma or other allergic diseases. A positive patch test to a corticosteroid means the patient cannot use that particular steroid. Although cross allergy between corticosteroids is common, such patients usually can tolerate another corticosteroid.

Corticosteroid drugs
Anti-inflammatory drugs that interfere with the immune system, suppress it and thereby dampen the inflammatory overreaction. They can be used to treat a number of allergic diseases - e.g. allergic rhinitis, eczema and rheumatoid arthritis. Corticosteroid drugs come as creams, inhalants, tablets and eye drops.

Corticosteroid hormones
Hormones produced by the adrenal glands.

Corticotropin
Corticotropin is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): corticotropin.

Corticotropin-releasing hormone
A hormone made by the hypothalamus that stimulates the release of corticotropin by the anterior pituitary gland. Corticotropin-releasing hormone is abbreviated and often referred to as CRH.

Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH)
The hormone released from the hypothalamus. It interacts with the pituitary to produce ACTH. This hormone uses cyclic AMP for its second messenger.

Cortifoam
Cortifoam is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): hydrocortisone acetate.

Cortisol
The hormone released from the adrenal glands in response to stress or low blood glucose. Its primary mode of action in times of stress is to shut down eicosanoid synthesis. Its synthesis in the adrenal gland requires the second messenger, cyclic AMP.

Cortisone
An adrenocorticoid hormone, a naturally occurring hormone made by and secreted by the adrenal cortex, the outer part (the cortex) of the adrenal gland.

Cortisone acetate
Cortisone acetate is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): cortisone acetate.

Cortisporin
Cortisporin is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): bacitracin zinc; hydrocortisone; neomycin sulfate; polymyxin b sulfate.

Cortone
Cortone is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): cortisone acetate.

Cortril
Cortril is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): hydrocortisone.

Cortrophin-zinc
Cortrophin-zinc is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): corticotropin-zinc hydroxide.

Cortrosyn
Cortrosyn is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): cosyntropin.



PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS
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Churg-Strauss Syndrome
Vasculitic disorder with predominant pulmonary eosinophilia.

Collagen
At a microscopic level, this is the 'skeleton' of most tissues in the body.

Collagen disease
See 'Connective tissue disease'.

Colles fracture
Fracture of distal radius and ulna just proximal to the wrist.

Connective tissue disease
Connective tissue diseases are inflammatory multisystem diseases characterised by evidence of autoimmunity (e.g. antibodies to cellular components) in which there are often prominent signs of involvement of the joints and other parts of the locomotor system. e.g. SLE.

Corticosteroids

COX
Prostaglandins can be of either COX-1 or COX-2 type. COX-2 are inflammatory and COX-1 are cytoprotective - e.g. to gastric mucosa.

Cranial arteritis
A vasculitic disorder which presents with head pain and scalp tenderness and a high ESR. Sudden loss of vision may occur due to retinal artery occlusion. Part of the polymyalgia rheumatica disease spectrum. Also known as giant cell or temporal arteritis.

C-reactive protein
A protein produced by the liver. An acute-phase reactant whose quantity serves as a guide to the presence and severity of inflammation.

Crepitus
Grating sensation or sound which may be appreciated on joint movement - signifies roughness of joint surfaces.

CREST Syndrome
Calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, (O)Esophageal dysmotility, Sclerodactyly and Telangectasia. A variant of scleroderma - now usually referred to as Limited Cutaneous Scleroderma

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This dictionary contains 19186 terms.







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