Wooten - Steroids Flashcards
Chronic use of glucocorticoids will have what effect on the HPA axis?
Increased levels of glucocorticoids in the system will provide negative feedback to the pituitary and hypothalamus, resulting in decreased ACTH release and eventual atrophy of the adrenal cortex
What happens to leukocyte counts in a patient on glucocorticoids?
Lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, and basophil levels will decrease, but neutrophil levels will INCREASE (these neutrophils cannot enter tissues though).
This elevated WBC does NOT indicate infection, and patient has increased susceptibility to infection in this state.
What are some (8) metabolic effects of glucocorticoid treatment?
- Increased insulin resistance and hyperglycemia
- Increased hepatic gluconeogenesis (exacerbating hyperglycemia)
- Proteolysis in skeletal muscle
- Lipolysis in adipose tissue (increased FA and cholesterol levels)
- Decreased Ca++ absorption
- Increased Ca++ wasting
- Increased K+
- Increased Na+/fluid retention
What are some (9) possible disease states that can be caused by steroid treatment?
Osteoporosis Hypercholesterolemia Hyperkalemia Hypocalcemia Hypernatremia Insulin resistance/iatrogenic diabetes Hyperglycemia Hypertension Reactivation of latent infections
What are some CNS AEs that can occur with steroid administration?
Hypomania Insomnia Mood disorders Depression Hallucinations Psychosis
What are some dermatologic AEs that can occur with steroid administration?
- Occur due to decreased fibroblast activity/collagen deposition
- Purple striae
- Easy bruising
- Thin skin
What supplementation should be considered in a patient on chronic glucocorticoids?
Ca++ and vitamin D
What is the name for primary adrenal insufficiency?
Addison’s disease
What hormones are affected in Addision’s disease?
All adrenal hormones: cortisol, aldosterone, DHEA
What are some characteristic findings in Cushing’s syndrome, and what is the cause?
Too much cortisol in the body causes Cushing’s syndrome (Cushing’s disease, specifically, is caused by a problem in the pituitary gland)
- Moon facies
- Purple striae
- Thin skin/easy bruising
- Proximal weakness/wasting of extremities
- Central adiposity
- Buffalo hump
- Osteoporosis/osteopenia
- Immunosuppression
- Insulin resistance/hyperglycemia
What are some things that can occur with sudden withdrawal from chronic glucocorticoid treatment?
Hyperkalemia
Hyponatremia –> hypotension
Hypoglycemia
Condition being treated by steroids may flare back up
Chronic glucocorticoid use for longer than _____ requires a taper before discontinuing use.
2 weeks
What are the short-acting glucocorticoid drugs?
Hydrocortisone, cortisone
What are the intermediate-acting glucocorticoid drugs?
Prednisone
Prednisolone
Methylprednisolone
What are the long-acting glucocorticoid drugs?
Dexamethasone