2. The hormones produced from three zones of adrenal cortex
Adrenal medulla : Epinephrine (adrenaline)
Zona glomerulosa (outer) : Mineralocorticoids
Zona fasciculata (middle) : Glucocorticoids
Zona reticularis (inner) : Adrenal androgens
Acute stress
Chronic stress
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5. DIAGNOSTIC USES (ACTH)
1. Adrenal insufficiency
Primary insufficiency
No increase in cortisol level
Secondary insufficiency
Increase in cortisol level
2. Cushing syndrome
ACTH injected
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6. THERAPEUTIC USES
Replacement therapy: Tumour in anterior pituitary
To stimulate the adrenal gland inactivated by steroid
therapy
Both uses are expensive & inconvenient
similar to that of steroids.
Being a foreign protein, ACTH may produce anaphylactic
reactions.
Side effects and contraindications
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8. History
1855 – Addison's disease
1856 – Adrenal glands essential for life
1930 – Cortex > medulla
1932 – Cushing’s syndrome
1949 – Hench et al (Steroids in rheumatoid arthritis)
1952 – Aldosterone
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9. CORTICOSTEROIDS
• Adrenal cortex essential for survival
• Adapt for changing environment
• Organ of par excellence -homeostasis
• Zona glomerulosa-aldosterone
• Zona fasciculata- glucocorticoids
• Zona reticulata- sex steroids
• Regulatory control from the hypothalamus
and pituitary.
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29. Pharmacological Actions
• For most clinical purposes, synthetic
glucocorticoids are used because they have a
higher affinity for the receptor, are less
activated and have little or no salt-retaining
properties.
• Hydrocortisone used for: orally for
replacement therapy, i.v. for shock and
asthma, topically for eczema (ointment) and
enemas (ulcerative colitis).
• Prednisolone the most widely used drug given
orally in inflammation and allergic diseases.
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30. Pharmacological Actions
• Betamethasone and dexamethasone: very
potent, w/o salt-retaining properties; thus,
very useful for high-dose therapies (e.g.,
cerebral edemas).
• Beclometasone, diproprionate, budesonide:
pass membranes poorly; more active when
applied topically (severe eczema for local anti-
inflammatory effects) than orally; used in
asthma, (aerosol).
• Triamcinolone: used for severe asthma and
for local joint inflammation (intra-articular
inj.).
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35. Actions: Electrolyte and water balance
• Aldosterone is more important
• Act on DT and CD of kidney
– Na+
reabsorption
– Urinary excretion of K+
and H+
• Addison’s disease ??
• Na+ loss
• Shrinkage of ECF
• Cellular hydration
• Hypodynamic state of CVS
• Circulatory collapse,
renal failure, death
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36. • Restrict capillary permeability
• Maintain tone of arterioles
• Myocardial contractility
Actions: Cardiovascular system
Mineralocorticoid induced hypertension ??
Na+
sensitize blood vessels to the action of
catecholamines & angiotensin
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37. Addison's disease: weakness and fatigue is due to
Prolonged use:
Actions: Skeletal Muscles
Needed for maintaining the normal function of Skeletal
muscle
inadequacy of circulatory system
Steroid myopathy
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39. Immunosuppressive and anti-allergic actions
• Suppresses all types of hypersensitivity and
allergic phenomenon
• At High dose: Interfere with all steps of
immunological response
• Causes greater suppression of Cell-mediated
immunity (graft rejection and delayed
hypersensitivity)
• Transplant rejection: antigen expression from
grafted tissues, delay revascularization,
sensitisation of T lymphocytes etc.
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41. • Inhibit cell division or synthesis of DNA
• Delay the process of healing
• Retard the growth of children
Actions: Growth and Cell division
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42. • Intestinal absorption
• Renal excretion
• Excessive loss of calcium from spongy bones
(e.g., vertebrae, ribs, etc)
Actions: Calcium metabolism
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43. • Not bronchodilators
• Most potent and most effective anti-inflammatory
• Effects not seen immediately (delay 6 or more hrs)
• Inhaled corticosteroids are used for long term control
Actions: Respiratory system
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47. Guidelines for steroid therapy
• Largely empirical neither specific nor curative except
replacement therapy
• Dose to be determined by trial & error method and
reevaluate periodically
• Careful patient assessment is mandatory
• A single large dose is virtually without harmful effects &
be reserved for life threatening conditions
• A short course therapy is unlikely to be harmful
• Abrupt withdrawal may be fatal
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60. Adverse reactions….contd
• Peptic ulcer
• Growth arrest
• Acne, hirsutism
• Topical –loss of skin collagen
• Inhalation: hoarseness of voice
• Teratogenicity: cleft palate, altered neuronal
development
• Reactivation of TB
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61. Antagonists of Adrenocortical Agents
A. Synthetic inhibitors and glucocorticoid antagonists
1. Metyrapone – inhibits 11-hydroxylation, interfering
with cortisol and corticosterone synthesis (0.25g
BID to 1g QID)
- used in tests of adrenal function (300-500mg q
4hrs. X 6doses, fed by urine collection
- treat hypercorticotism: 4 g/day
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62. 2. Aminoglutethimide – blocks the conversion of
cholesterol to pregnanelolone and causes a
reduction in the synthesis of all hormonally
active steroids; breast Ca and Cushing’s
syndrome due to adrenocortical Ca: 250 mg
every 6hrs.
- enhances metabolism of dexamethasone
3. Trilostane - inhibits 3beta hydroxysteroid
dehydrogenase
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63. 3. Ketoconazole – an antifungal imidazole
derivative; potent, non-selective inhibitor of
adrenal and gonadal steroid synthesis; tx of
Cushing’s syndrome (200-1200mg/d)
4. Mifepristone (RU 486) –
11β-aminophenyl-substituted 19-norsteroid;
has strong anti-progestin activity; blocks
glucocorticoid receptor
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64. B. Mineralocorticoid Antagonists
1. Spirinolactone – diagnosis of aldosteronism
(400-500mg/day fro 4-8 days); preparing for
surgery (300-40mg/day x 2 wks to reduce the
incidence of arrhythmias); hirsutism in women
(androgen antagonist 50-200mg/d x 2-6 mos);
diuretic
2. Eplerenone
3. Drospirenone – progestin in a new oral
contraceptive, antagonizes the effect of
aldosterone
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65. PATKI
Drug interactions
• Estrogens may decrease prednisone metabolism.
• Phenobarbital, phenytoin, and rifampicin may
increase metabolism of glucocorticoids
• May cause digitalis toxicity secondary to
hypokalemia.
• Monitor for hypokalemia with co-administration of
diuretics
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66. PATKI
Fludrocortisone
• It is the only mineralocorticoid given orally.
• It has a very great mineralocorticoid plus a significant
glucocorticoid activities.
• It has a long duration of action
Fludrocortisone is preferred in:
- Replacement therapy in Addison's disease.
- to preserve sodium and treat hypotension as in cases
of interstitial nephritis and autonomic neuropathy.
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