Carl K. answered • 09/02/19
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine
Cortisone is a glucocorticoid, also called a corticosteroid, which is somewhat of a misnomer, as a mineralocorticoid is also a corticosteroid.
Cortisone and medications like it are potent immunomodulators, meaning they have a potent anti-inflammatory effect on many body tissues. Glucocorticoid receptors are found on nearly every cell type in the human body.
The most common use is probably as an anti-inflammatory agent. Asthma as a disease has a strong inflammatory component, which affect breathing at the bronchioles in the lung. In an acute asthmatic attack, a series of events within the lung are triggered, leading to shortness of breath. Administration of a steroid, either by inhalation, orally, or in extreme cases, intravenously will rapidly improve symptoms. Steroids are also used as a preventative.
Inflammatory diseases such as contact dermatitis (poison ivy is a classic) are also treated with cortisone.
Adrenal insufficiency, also known as Addison's disease is a disorder of underproduction of glucocorticoids, and cortisone is the treatment of choice.
Cortisone immunomodulator, and has use on immune system disorders, such as Lupus. Cortisone can be used to suppress the immune system in transplant patients to prevent transplant rejection, and in graft-vs-host disease, such as with stem-cell transplant.
Indiscrimant or over use of corticosteroids can lead to Cushing's disease, reduced ability to fight infection, hyperglycemia, osteoporosis, menstrual cycle irregularity, and obesity due to appetite stimulation.
