Encyclopedia of Molecular Pharmacology

2008 Edition
| Editors: Stefan Offermanns, Walter Rosenthal

Dexamethasone

Reference work entry
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-38918-7_5543

Synthetic steroid with strong glucocorticoid-agonistic activity. Dexamethasone is over 10 times more potent than cortisol due to a higher binding affinity for glucocorticoid receptor and a decreased clearance rate of the compound. Due to its potency, dexamethasone is widely used in the clinics for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

 Gluco-/Mineralocorticoid Receptors

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© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York 2008