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Pituitary-adrenal and pituitary-thyroid function during administration of difluocortolone and dexamethasone to human subjects

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Summary

In a comparative study in humans pituitary-adrenal and pituitary-thyroid function have been assessed following oral administration of difluocortolone and dexamethasone to groups of volunteers. The results of single dose and multi-dose studies demonstrate that on an equal dose basis difluocortolone is a less potent inhibitor of both functions than dexamethasone. During administration of the former drug adrenal steroids were less suppressed and following multi-dose administration recovery of pituitary adrenal function was more rapid than was the case with dexamethasone.

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Abbreviations

Dexamethasone:

1,2-dehydro 9α-fluoro-16α-methylcortisol

Fluocortolone:

1

Difluocortolone:

1,2-dehydro-6α, 9α-dilluoro-16α-methylcorticosterone

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrine Investigation Centre, St. James Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland

    R. F. Lambe, D. A. O'Kelly & A. Darragh

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  1. R. F. Lambe
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  2. D. A. O'Kelly
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  3. A. Darragh
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Lambe, R.F., O'Kelly, D.A. & Darragh, A. Pituitary-adrenal and pituitary-thyroid function during administration of difluocortolone and dexamethasone to human subjects. I.J.M.S. 147, 15–25 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02939362

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