Signaling Protein Could Be Target for Leukemia Chemo

Title: Signaling Protein Could Be Target for Leukemia Chemo
Category: Health News
Created: 9/18/2008 2:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 9/18/2008

When steroids are taken in from the outside either by mouth, intramuscularly or intravenously, they are referred to as exogenous steroids. Taking glucocorticoids orally or intravenously can reduce the ability of the persons own adrenal glands to continue to manufacture glucocorticoids.

Without the ability to increase steroid production in the face of stressors such as injury, infection, and surgery, a patient can go into shock.

Other side-effects include:

The chances of the adrenal glands being suppressed increase as the dose of outside steroid exceeds the average daily equivalent output of the adrenal glands which is about 5.0-7.5 mg prednisone, therapy continues for more than a few weeks or months, doses are given late in the day or in split doses, or long-acting corticosteroid preparations are used.

Prednizone- the correct spelling is prednisone- is a commonly used oral glucocorticoid medicine.

Prednizone Side Effects - Should I Be Worried if I Take this Drug?

Increased risk of bacterial or opportunistic infections such as fungi, tuberculosis, pneumocystis carinii

Elevated blood sugar

Fat distribution changes leading to moon face, buffalo hump

Elevated blood lipids

Aggravation of hypertension

Electrolyte abnormalities such as low blood potassium

Fluid retention leading to edema

Easy bruisibility

Increased body hair

Increased sweating

Purple stretch marks

Impaired wound healing

Glaucoma

Cataracts

Muscle wasting

Stomach ulcers

Pancreatitis

Accelerated hardening of the arteries

Osteonecrosis (bone death)

Psychiatric disturbance

Insomnia

Bowel perforation

Masking of infection

Patients who require high doses of prednisone (more than 20 mgs a day) for extended periods of time often will develop side-effects.

The use of prednisone for different diseases such as arthritis needs to be assessed with the potential benefits vs. the risks. These benefits and risks need to be discussed with your rheumatologist.

Glucocorticoids manufactured by the body are referred to as endogenous steroids- meaning a persons own body makes these steroids.

Taking steroids on an alternate day (every other day) schedule lessens the chance of adrenal insufficiency but does not do away with it altogether.

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