Corticosteroids

Question 1

What are corticosteroids used for in respiratory medicine?

Answer 1

• anti-inflammatory medication
• vasodilation

Question 2

What cells can corticosteroids receptors be found upon in the body?

Answer 2

• all cells

Question 3

What type of receptors do corticosteroids use to influence the body?

Answer 3

• nuclear receptors

Question 4

What compounds in the body do corticosteroids get grouped as which allows them to cross the transmembrane barrier of cells and bind with nuclear receptors?

Answer 4

• steroid
• hormone and steroid are able to bind to nuclear receptors

Question 5

How do corticosteroids generally have their affect on cells?

Answer 5

• cross plasma membrane
• bind with nuclear receptor
• modulate gene expression

Question 6

What are the 2 key corticosteroids drugs that we need to be aware of?

Answer 6

• prednisolone (oral tablet or intervaneously)
• beclomethasone (inhaler)

Question 7

What are the benefits and risks of giving a patient the corticosteroids prednisolone intravenously?

Answer 7

• systemic and fast acting
• not affected by inhaler technique
• higher risk of side effects

Question 8

What are the benefits and risks of giving a patient the corticosteroids beclomethasone via an inhaler?

Answer 8

• localised action
• fewer side effects
• disease may impair absorption

Question 9

Which corticosteroids is given as an inhaler?

Answer 9

• beclomethasone

Question 10

Beclomethasone is a corticosteroids that is given as an inhaler. Although it can be very effective, what are the most common side effects?

Answer 10

• reduced immune effect
• fungal infections occur (oral candidiasis)
• dysphonia (horse voice)

Question 11

Oral candidiasis (fungal infection) is a common side effect when giving Beclomethasone as a corticosteroids inhaler, how can this be minimised for patients?

Answer 11

• oral mouthwash
• use spacers