Corticosteroids Treatment in Spinal Cord and Neuromuscular Disorders

ABSTRACT

Corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex of the vertebrates, as well as the synthetic analogs of these hormones that are synthesized in the laboratories. Two main classes of corticosteroids, glucocorticoids, and mineralocorticoids, are involved in a wide range of physiologic processes, including stress response, immune response, and regulation of inflammation, carbohydrate metabolism, protein catabolism, blood electrolyte levels, and behavior. Corticosteroids have been used for almost 60 years in medicine and their roles in patients have always been discussed by researchers and clinicians dedicated in the related field. Currently, they are still used in the treatment of patients with neurological disorders. Usually, corticosteroids are used in the treatment of various inflammatory diseases and conditions. In this review, we present five key indications, i.e., neuromyelitis optica, acute spinal cord injury, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, myasthenia gravis, polymyositis/dermatomyositis for the systemic use of corticosteroids in neurology based on a mix of quality of evidence, prevalence, and impact on disease management.