Corticosteroid News and Research

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Corticosteroids are any steroid hormones made in the adrenal cortex (the outer part of the adrenal gland). They are also made in the laboratory. Corticosteroids have many different effects in the body, and are used to treat many different conditions. They may be used as hormone replacement, to suppress the immune system, and to treat some side effects of cancer and its treatment. Corticosteroids are also used to treat certain lymphomas and lymphoid leukemias.

Life saving drug found for COVID-19 patients on ventilators

Results from Oxford University’s RECOVERY trial into existing drugs for the treatment of COVID-19 has found that dexamethasone reduced deaths by a third in ventilated coronavirus patients and by a fifth in coronavirus patients requiring oxygen. This is the first drug of its kind to be demonstrated to have a significant impact on COVID-19 mortality.

16 Jun 2020

Key enzyme that contributes to eczema identified

Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute have identified a key enzyme that contributes to eczema, which may lead to better treatment to prevent the skin disorder's debilitating effects.

10 Jun 2020

Novel compound shows promise for ANCA-associated vasculitis

ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a systemic disease involving the formation of special autoantibodies (so-called anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies/ANCA) and vascular inflammation.

8 Jun 2020

FDA approves IND application by Octapharma USA for severe COVID-19 patients

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the investigational new drug (IND) application submitted by Octapharma USA for a phase three clinical trial on the efficacy and safety of Octagam 10% [Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human)] therapy in COVID-19 patients with severe disease progression.

20 May 2020

Certain corticosteroid could improve severe COVID-19, say researchers

Researchers at Wayne State University and Henry Ford Health System in Michigan have conducted a study indicating that the corticosteroid methylprednisolone could improve outcomes among patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

20 May 2020

Children exposed to maternal antenatal corticosteroids have more behavioral disorders

Maternal antenatal corticosteroid treatment is standard care when there is a risk for preterm delivery. The treatment improves the prognosis of babies born preterm.

20 May 2020

Study finds two FDA-approved drugs are promising against COVID-19

Korean researchers have screened 48 FDA-approved drugs against SARS-CoV-2, and found that two, that are already FDA-approved for other illnesses, seem promising.

5 May 2020

AHA awards grants to 12 teams for fast-tracked heart and brain health research related to COVID-19

Less than a month after issuing a rapid response call for scientific research proposals for fast-tracked studies of the effects of COVID-19 on the body's cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems, the American Heart Association has awarded $1.2 million in grants to teams at 12 institutions across the U.S. to begin this unprecedented work.

2 May 2020

Prolonged corticosteroid treatment increases adrenal gland inflammation

New research by academics at the University of Bristol has found evidence that prolonged treatment of synthetic corticosteroid drugs increases adrenal gland inflammation in response to bacterial infection, an effect that in the long-term can damage adrenal function.

27 Apr 2020

Immunosuppressant shows promise in addressing COVID-19 symptoms for patients with blood cancers

A case study of a patient in Wuhan, China, suggests that the immunosuppressant tocilizumab may be an effective COVID-19 treatment for very ill patients who also have multiple myeloma and other blood cancers.

5 Apr 2020

Lipid aids healing of scratches on the cornea

A species of a lipid that naturally helps skin injuries heal appears to also aid repair of common corneal injuries, even when other conditions, like diabetes, make healing difficult, scientists report.

26 Mar 2020

Three-drug combination reduces all-cause mortality in COPD patients

Once-daily treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with an inhaler combining fluticasone furoate (FF), umeclidinium (UMEC) and vilanterol (VI) reduced all-cause mortality by 42 percent, according to new research published online in the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

18 Mar 2020

Experts advise against using steroids for treatment of coronavirus

Steroids should be avoided in the treatment of the current novel coronavirus, experts have advised.

6 Feb 2020

Research paves the way to improved treatment for complex blood disorders

Nearly 1.6 billion people worldwide suffer from anemia, and for the first time new research points to how resistance emerges to the drug dexamethasone used to treat the devastating inherited form of anemia known as Diamond Blackfan anemia.

22 Jan 2020

Nasal sprays cut down usage of antibiotics for individuals with chronic rhinosinusitis

Nasal saline and corticosteroid sprays are pretty standard treatment for individuals battling chronic rhinosinusitis.

17 Dec 2019

Study suggests link between bacteria in the upper airway and asthma severity

A new study led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests there is a link between bacteria that live in the upper airway and the severity of asthma symptoms among children with mild to moderate asthma.

16 Dec 2019

Mysterious feather duvet lung disease nearly kills a man

A soft pillow and a warm duvet are all you need to have a soothing and relaxing sleep, especially during the frigid season. However, a man from the United Kingdom nearly died because of a mysterious illness related to a duvet. It was later found out by doctors that the culprit for his lung disease is his newly-bought feather duvet.

19 Nov 2019