BACKGROUND Corticosteroids used in addition to antituberculous therapy have been reported to benefit people with tuberculous pleurisy. However, research findings are inconsistent and raise doubt as to whether such treatment is worthwhile. There is also concern regarding the potential adverse effects of corticosteroids, especially in HIV-positive people. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effects of a...

The importance of presenting absolute cell numbers when counting cells in biological samples is illustrated by the potentially misleading interpretation of data in the paper by Marco Confalonieri and colleagues. The authors concluded that, in addition to reduced sputum neutrophilia, the number of sputum macrophages increased significantly following treatment with inhaled beclomethasone dipropio...

Corticosteroids have been used by ophthalmologists with increasing frequency over the past 30 years, with the concomitant development of a diverse range of drop, ointment, subconjunctival, and oral preparations. Though the clinical benefits and side effects of such corticosteroid preparations have been well documented, their basic pharmacokinetics in the human eye have yet to be fully establish...

As the balance of evidence regarding corticosteroid treatment for septic shock shifts once again toward the negative, the study by Sprung et al.1 in this issue of the Journal elicits a strong feeling of déjà vu. Will the historical fate of high-dose corticosteroids, which were largely abandoned when the benefit observed in early studies could not be replicated in larger trials,2,3 now befall “p...

INTRODUCTION In comparison with the extremely frequent use of corticosteroids in different diseases, immediate allergic reactions remain uncommon. In addition to the steroid molecule, the causative agent of these reactions can be an excipient. MATERIAL AND METHODS We report seven cases of immediate reactions induced by different preparations of corticosteroids. Skin tests with the suspected s...

We generated a list of all topical corticosteroids available in Poland in 2015 (2) and described by the manufacturer as being ‘for topical use on the skin’. For each product meeting the inclusion criteria, the list of ingredients was extracted from the package insert. Subsequently, the compounds were matched against the European baseline series of 28 contact allergens (3) and possible cross-rea...

Topical corticosteroids are widely used for inflammatory and hyperproliferative disorders in dermatology. Numerous topical corticosteroids with high local activity have been developed over the years, with a focus to develop drugs with high efficacy locally and minimum risk for adverse drug reactions. They are available in a number of formulations. Their therapeutic effects are a result of their...

There are currently available 5 different inhaled corticosteroids, in a variety of different inhalation delivery devices. In the near future there will certainly be more inhaled corticosteroids in newer inhalation delivery devices available in the United States. Tremendous amounts of information will be made available about the relative advantages and disadvantages of these new products. Most o...

Vitiligo is an acquired disorder characterized by depigmented macules on skin, hair, and mucosa. Its prevalence worldwide is 0.1-2% and varies from country to country.1 It is associated with high psychiatric morbidity and dysfunction, particularly in darker skin types where the contrast between normal and depigmented skin is highly pronounced.2,3 The usual approach to the treatment of vitiligo ...

Corticosteroids and endothelial dysfunction Assessment of endothelial-mediated relaxation in situ is rapidly becoming the standard gauge of individual susceptibility to future cardiovascular dysfunction (Hadi et al 2005). In this issue of Vascular Health and Risk Management, Turner and colleagues (2005), in a pilot investigation, have proposed the concept that endothelial dysfunction in patient...