... Abstract Hyponatremia is the commonest electrolyte deficiency in clinical practice. Of the many causes of hyponatremia, syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (SIAD) is the commonest. Glucocorticoid deficiency, due to central/secondary adrenal insufficiency, is the key differential diagnosis...

... Abstract Vitamin D is a target of chronic exposure to glucocorticoid excess, which is the cause of a severe form of secondary osteoporosis. Glucocorticoids affect vitamin D metabolism at different levels of the enzymatic cascade, thereby decreasing the synthesis of active vitamin D...

... Abstract Cortisol in man is essential for life. Excess cortisol as in Cushing's syndrome and during pharmacological glucocorticoid (GC) therapy is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Recent data from patients with adrenal insufficiency (AI) have demonstrated...

... Abstract Glucocorticoid excess may have adverse effects on glucose tolerance by various mechanisms. They may not only induce defective pancreatic insulin secretion, but also increase insulin resistance and food intake while translocating glucose transporters from the plasma membrane. About 20...

... Abstract Glucocorticoids regulate a variety of physiological processes, and are commonly used to treat disorders of inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. Glucocorticoid action is predominantly mediated through the classic glucocorticoid receptor (GR), but sensitivity to glucocorticoids...

... Abstract Familial or sporadic primary generalized glucocorticoid resistance or Chrousos syndrome is a rare genetic condition characterized by generalized, partial, target-tissue insensitivity to glucocorticoids and a consequent hyperactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis...

... Abstract Changes in glucocorticoid (GC) receptor sensitivity can be categorized in three different types. First, generalized GC resistance syndrome is a hereditary disease. Patients present with signs and symptoms of increased androgen and/or mineralocorticoid action, combined with biochemical...

... is not established, however there is evidence to suggest that the cortisol rhythm is one important secondary messenger. Loss of the endogenous cortisol rhythm is associated with sleep disturbance, depression, and metabolic abnormalities. In adrenal insufficiency, current glucocorticoid replacement regimens cannot...

... for the interplay between insulin and glucose [ 2 ]. Another well- studied system is the 11β- hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase system (11- HSD), which is responsible for the activation and deactivation of glucocorticoids in a tissue- specific manner [ 3 , 4 ]. The interplay between these systems has been less well...