Biomaterial Database

Betamethasone valerate in corticosteroid-dependent asthmatics. The integrity of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis. 1975

P Roscoe, and Y F Choo-Kang, and N W Horne

In a single-blind trial 29 patients with corticosteroid-dependent asthma reduced their daily dose of oral prednisolone by 1 mg/week while using a placebo inhaler until an unacceptable degree of asthma occurred. Betamethasone-17-vlaerate in a dose of 800 mug/day and if necessary 1600 mug/day was then substituted for the placebo inhaler and the reduction of oral prednisolone continued until the prednisolone was withdrawn completely or an unacceptable degree of asthma recurred. In 22 patients (76%) prednisolone was withdrawn completely, 11 on 800 mug and 11 on 1600 mug betamethasone-17-valerate. The mean reduction of prednisolone was 3-8 mg on placebo, 5-4 mg on 800 mug and a further 1-8 mg in patients requiring 1600 mug of betamethasone-17-valerate. The hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis was assessed by tetracosactrin and insulin stress tests at the start of the study and after withdrawal of oral prednisolone. The results indicate that an HPA axis which is completely suppressed by systemic corticosteroids can regain normal integrity when the systemic steroid is replaced by betamethasone-17-valerate in a dose of either 800 mug/day or 1600 mug/day. Candidiasis was observed, but will be reported later.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007031	Hypothalamus	Ventral part of the DIENCEPHALON extending from the region of the OPTIC CHIASM to the caudal border of the MAMMILLARY BODIES and forming the inferior and lateral walls of the THIRD VENTRICLE.	Lamina Terminalis,Preoptico-Hypothalamic Area,Area, Preoptico-Hypothalamic,Areas, Preoptico-Hypothalamic,Preoptico Hypothalamic Area,Preoptico-Hypothalamic Areas
D007328	Insulin	A 51-amino acid pancreatic hormone that plays a major role in the regulation of glucose metabolism, directly by suppressing endogenous glucose production (GLYCOGENOLYSIS; GLUCONEOGENESIS) and indirectly by suppressing GLUCAGON secretion and LIPOLYSIS. Native insulin is a globular protein comprised of a zinc-coordinated hexamer. Each insulin monomer containing two chains, A (21 residues) and B (30 residues), linked by two disulfide bonds. Insulin is used as a drug to control insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 1).	Iletin,Insulin A Chain,Insulin B Chain,Insulin, Regular,Novolin,Sodium Insulin,Soluble Insulin,Chain, Insulin B,Insulin, Sodium,Insulin, Soluble,Regular Insulin
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010902	Pituitary Gland	A small, unpaired gland situated in the SELLA TURCICA. It is connected to the HYPOTHALAMUS by a short stalk which is called the INFUNDIBULUM.	Hypophysis,Hypothalamus, Infundibular,Infundibular Stalk,Infundibular Stem,Infundibulum (Hypophysis),Infundibulum, Hypophyseal,Pituitary Stalk,Hypophyseal Infundibulum,Hypophyseal Stalk,Hypophysis Cerebri,Infundibulum,Cerebri, Hypophysis,Cerebrus, Hypophysis,Gland, Pituitary,Glands, Pituitary,Hypophyseal Stalks,Hypophyses,Hypophysis Cerebrus,Infundibular Hypothalamus,Infundibular Stalks,Infundibulums,Pituitary Glands,Pituitary Stalks,Stalk, Hypophyseal,Stalk, Infundibular,Stalks, Hypophyseal,Stalks, Infundibular
D010912	Pituitary-Adrenal Function Tests	Tests that evaluate the adrenal glands controlled by pituitary hormones.	Function Test, Pituitary-Adrenal,Function Tests, Pituitary-Adrenal,Pituitary Adrenal Function Tests,Pituitary-Adrenal Function Test,Test, Pituitary-Adrenal Function,Tests, Pituitary-Adrenal Function
D011239	Prednisolone	A glucocorticoid with the general properties of the corticosteroids. It is the drug of choice for all conditions in which routine systemic corticosteroid therapy is indicated, except adrenal deficiency states.	Di-Adreson-F,Predate,Predonine,Di Adreson F,DiAdresonF
D002986	Clinical Trials as Topic	Works about pre-planned studies of the safety, efficacy, or optimum dosage schedule (if appropriate) of one or more diagnostic, therapeutic, or prophylactic drugs, devices, or techniques selected according to predetermined criteria of eligibility and observed for predefined evidence of favorable and unfavorable effects. This concept includes clinical trials conducted both in the U.S. and in other countries.	Clinical Trial as Topic
D003366	Cosyntropin	A synthetic peptide that is identical to the 24-amino acid segment at the N-terminal of ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC HORMONE. ACTH (1-24), a segment similar in all species, contains the biological activity that stimulates production of CORTICOSTEROIDS in the ADRENAL CORTEX.	ACTH (1-24),Tetracosactide,Tetracosactrin,1-24-ACTH,1-24-Corticotropin,ACTH 1-24,Corticotropin (1-24)-Peptide,Corticotropin (1-24)-Tetracosapeptide,Cortosyn,Cortrosyn,Synthetic ACTH,Tetracosapeptide,ACTH, Synthetic
D005260	Female		Females