Corticosteroids
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The reduction of mucosal edema in bronchi and bronchioles can be achieved by use of glucocorticoids to suppress the inflammatory response.
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In man the corticosteroids are used for severe, disabling, bronchodilator-resistant asthma.
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These may be administered orally, parenterally or as an aerosol.
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Their use carries the risks of a reduced ability to gight infections and also the risk of adrenal cortex suppression if the administration is prolonged.
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Their effects on the inflammatory response include membrane stabilization, reduced antibody synthesis, reduced mediator release following antigen-antibody interactions and lessened fibrosis.
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These drugs also block uptake 2 and so extend the half-life of endogenous sympathomimetics.
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Corticosteroids can be used with advantage to control chronic allergic-type summer coughs in dogs either by the oral administration of prednisolone or by the use of injectable depot preparations.
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Last modified: Wednesday, 25 April 2012, 12:05 PM