Natural and synthetic glucocorticoids, in use for 21 years, have outlived the phases of over-optimism regarding cura tive actions and over-pessimism over side effects. Some of the side effects can be evaded, as in alternate day therapy; others can be taken advantage of in the management of specific conditions as shown in the summary Table 3.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Hench, P.S. et al.: Effects of adrenal cortical hormone 17-hydroxy 11-dehydrocorticosterone (Compound E) on acute phase of rheumatic fever: preliminary report. Proc. Mayo Clin.24: 277, 1949.
2.
Hellman, L. et al.: Cortisol is secreted episodically by normal man. J. Clin. Endocrinol.30: 411, 1970.
3.
Kenny. F.M., Richards, C. and Taylor, F.H.: Reference standards for cortisol production and 17-hydroxy-corticosteroid excretion during growth: variation in pattern of excretion of radiolabeled cortisol metabolites. Metabolism19: 280, 1970.
4.
Chen, R., Kenny, F.M. and Drash, A.: Cushing's disease in a boy: serial steroid and growth hormone studies. Johns Hopkins Med. J.125: 134, 1969.
5.
Schletter, F.E. et al.: Cushing's syndrome in childhood: Report of two cases with bilateral adrenocortical hyperplasia, showing distinctive clinical features. J. Clin. Endocrinol.27: 22, 1967.
6.
Wilkins, L., Blizzard, R.M. and Migeon, C.J.: The Diagnosis and Treatment of Endocrine Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence , ed. 3, Springfield, Charles C Thomas, 1965, p. 416.
7.
Morris, H.G. , Jorgensen, J.R. and Elrick, H.: Metabolic effects of human growth hormone in corticosteroid-treated children. J. Clin. Invest.47: 435, 1968.
8.
Soyka, L.F. and Crawford, J.D.: Antagonism by cortisone of the linear growth induced in hypo-pituitary patients and hypophysectomized rats by human growth hormone. J. Clin. Endocrinol.25: 469, 1965.
9.
Hartog. M., Gaafar, M.A. and Fraser, R.: Effect of corticosteroids on serum growth hormone. Lancet2: 376, 1964.
10.
Frantz, A.G. and Rabkin, M.T.: Human growth hormone. Clinical measurement, response to hypoglycemia, and suppression by corticosteroids. New Eng. J. Med.271: 1375, 1964.
11.
James, V.H.T. et al.: A fundamental defect of adrenocortical control in Cushing's disease. J. Endocrinol.40: 15, 1968.
12.
Morris, H.G. , Jorgensen, J.R. and Elrick, H.: Plasma growth hormone concentration in corticosteroid treated children. J. Clin. Invest.47: 327, 1968.
13.
Cohen, R.J. and Deller, J.J.: Growth hormone studies in Cushing's syndrome . Am. J. Med. Sci.252: 451, 1966.
14.
Sakuma, M. and Knobil, E.: Failure of high rates of glucocorticoid infusion to inhibit growth hormone secretion in the rhesus monkey. Endocrinology86: 895, 1970.
15.
Salassa, R.M. , Bennett, W.A., Keating, F.R. and Sprague, R.G.: Postoperative adrenal cortical insufficiency; occurrence in patients previously treated with cortisone. JAMA152: 1509, 1953.
16.
Migeon, C.J. , Kenny, F.M., Hung, W. and Voorhess, M.L.: Study of adrenal function in children with meningitis. Pediatrics40: 163, 1967.
17.
Estep, H.L. et al.: Pituitary adrenal dynamics during surgical stress. J. Clin. Endocrinol.23: 419, 1963.
18.
Treadwell, B.L.J. et al.: Pituitary-adrenal function during corticosteroid therapy. Lancet1: 355, 1963.
19.
Aceto, T., Jr., Beckhorn, G.D., Jorgensen, J.R. and Johnson, W.R.: Iatrogenic ACTH-cortisol insufficiency. Pediat. Clin. N. Am.13: 543, 1966.
20.
Migeon, C.J., Weldon, V. and Guild, H.G.: Iatrogenic adrenal cortical suppression; in Adolescent Endocrinology , New York, Appleton-Century-Crofts , 1970, pp. 149-170.
21.
Robinson, B.H.B. , Mattingly, D. and Cope, C.L.: Adrenal function after prolonged corticosteroid therapy. Br. Med. J.1: 1579, 1962.
22.
Harter, J.G. , Reddy, W.J. and Thorn, G.W.: Studies on intermittent corticosteroid dosage regimen. New Eng. J. Med.269: 591, 1963 .
23.
Sadeghi-Nejad, A. and Senior, B.: Adrenal function, growth, and insulin in patients treated with corticoids on alternate days. Pediatrics43: 277, 1969.
24.
Crawford, J.D. , Gellis, S. and Senior, B.: Avoidance of dogma: alternate-day corticoid therapy in a variety of illnesses in childhood. J. Pediat.77: 735, 1970.
25.
Graber, A.L. et al.: Natural history of pituitary-adrenal recovery following long-term suppression with corticosteroids. J. Clin. Endocrinol.25: 11, 1965.
26.
Hillman, D.A. and Giroud, C.J.P.: Plasma cortisone and cortisol levels at birth and during the neonatal period. J. Clin. Endocrinol.25: 243, 1965.
27.
Kenny, F.M. et al.: Cortisol production rate VII. Hyprothyroidism and hyperthyroidism in infants and children. J. Clin. Endocrinol.27: 1616, 1967.
28.
Peterson, R.E. and Pierce, C.E.: Metabolism of corticosterone in man. J. Clin. Invest.39: 741, 1960.
29.
Nelson, D.H. , Sandberg, A.A., Palmer, J.G. and Tyler, F.H.: Blood levels of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids following the administration of adrenal steroids and their relation to levels of circulating leukocytes. J. Clin. Invest.31: 843, 1952.
30.
Vazquez, A.M. and Kenny, F.M.: Hypertension secondary to excessive desoxycorticosterone implants or 9-alpha fluorocortisol in salt losing congenital adrenal hyperplasia . J. Pediat. (in press).
