Indications of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants
Indications of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants ( 4 Questions)
A nurse is administering fludrocortisone (Florinef), a mineralocorticoid, to a client who has Addison's disease. What are some of the expected pharmacologic effects of fludrocortisone in this condition?
It promotes sodium reabsorption and potassium excretion in the kidney, increasing blood volume and blood pressure: Fludrocortisone mimics the action of aldosterone by promoting the reabsorption of sodium and the excretion of potassium in the kidneys. This leads to an increase in blood volume and blood pressure, helping to manage the hypotension that is often associated with Addison's disease.
It reduces inflammation, pain, fever, and allergic reactions by inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes: This description corresponds to the pharmacologic effects of glucocorticoids rather than mineralocorticoids like fludrocortisone. While glucocorticoids can have anti-inflammatory effects, fludrocortisone primarily focuses on the mineralocorticoid actions related to electrolyte balance.
It regulates the secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from the anterior pituitary gland, maintaining the feedback loop of cortisol production: Fludrocortisone does not directly regulate the secretion of ACTH. It primarily acts at the level of the kidneys to promote sodium reabsorption and potassium excretion.
It influences the carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism in various tissues, increasing blood glucose and suppressing immune response: These effects are associated with glucocorticoids rather than mineralocorticoids. Fludrocortisone primarily focuses on the mineralocorticoid effects related to electrolyte balance rather than the metabolic and immunosuppressive actions of glucocorticoids.
Fludrocortisone is a synthetic mineralocorticoid that is used in the treatment of Addison's disease, a condition characterized by deficient production of adrenal hormones, including cortisol and aldosterone. Fludrocortisone primarily acts as a replacement for aldosterone, which is responsible for regulating electrolyte balance and fluid volume in the body.
A. It promotes sodium reabsorption and potassium excretion in the kidney, increasing blood volume and blood pressure: Fludrocortisone mimics the action of aldosterone by promoting the reabsorption of sodium and the excretion of potassium in the kidneys. This leads to an increase in blood volume and blood pressure, helping to manage the hypotension that is often associated with Addison's disease.
B. It reduces inflammation, pain, fever, and allergic reactions by inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes: This description corresponds to the pharmacologic effects of glucocorticoids rather than mineralocorticoids like fludrocortisone. While glucocorticoids can have anti-inflammatory effects, fludrocortisone primarily focuses on the mineralocorticoid actions related to electrolyte balance.
C. It regulates the secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from the anterior pituitary gland, maintaining the feedback loop of cortisol production: Fludrocortisone does not directly regulate the secretion of ACTH. It primarily acts at the level of the kidneys to promote sodium reabsorption and potassium excretion.
D. It influences the carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism in various tissues, increasing blood glucose and suppressing immune response: These effects are associated with glucocorticoids rather than mineralocorticoids. Fludrocortisone primarily focuses on the mineralocorticoid effects related to electrolyte balance rather than the metabolic and immunosuppressive actions of glucocorticoids.