Corticosteroids in the treatment of gastrointestinal disease

Corticosteroids remain the mainstay of anti-inflammatory and immunosuppress ive therapy for many gastrointestinal conditions. We are now starting to un derstand their mechanism of action and the phenomenon of corticosteroid res istance. Because of the ubiquity of corticosteroid receptors in virtually a ll cells of the body, side effects of therapy are common and may affect mul tiple body sites. Newer corticosteroid analogues are being developed to min imize these complications, and concomitant use of other immunomodulatory dr ugs often facilitates corticosteroid dosage reduction or even withdrawal in chronic inflammatory states. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.