Glucocorticoids are highly effective in treating polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis, but their use is associated with numerous adverse events. Therefore, it is important to use them for the shortest period of time possible. The published evidence suggests that discontinuation of GC is feasible in a substantial number of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis ...

.............................................................................................................................. ii Co-Authorship.................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. v List ...

We focus on how the IL-1 system, T-helper1 (Th1) or Th2 cytokines and glucocorticoids, converge to give a unified physiological response. Glucocorticoids inhibit IL-1 and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) expression, Th1 cytokines stimulate both and Th2 cytokines stimulate IL-1ra and inhibit IL-1. Thus, during the Th1 response there is a window for IL-1 inflammatory activity, absent during the ...

In mammalian species, the fetal adrenal gland plays a key role during late gestation since fetal glucocorticoids are involved in the maturation of the fetus and in the adaptation of the neonate to extra-uterine life. Moreover, in domestic ruminants as well as in the pig, the onset of parturition is triggered by an increased level of fetal plasma glucocorticoids. This prepartum rise of fetal glu...

The fetus may be exposed to increased endogenous or synthetic glucocorticoid (GS) exposure in late gestation. Approximately 7% of pregnant women in Europe and North America are treated with synthetic GSs to promote lung maturation in fetuses at risk of preterm delivery. Maternal steroid treatment before preterm delivery is one of the best documented and most cost effective life saving treatment...