Antiinflammatory Action of Glucocorticoids — New Mechanisms for Old Drugs

Steroids have adverse effects: growth retardation in children, immunosuppression, hypertension, inhibition of wound repair, osteoporosis, and metabolic disturbances. All these harmful properties contraindicate prolonged glucocorticoid therapy. Unfortunately, because some of these mechanisms are also involved in physiologic signaling rather than inflammatory signaling, the therapeutic effects of glucocorticoids in inflammation are often accompanied by clinically significant side effects.

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