What are the therapeutic uses of corticosteroids?

Corticosteroids have a wide range of therapeutic uses, but their primary roles are to reduce inflammation and suppress the immune response. This makes them highly effective in treating various inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and asthma. By modulating the immune system, corticosteroids can help alleviate symptoms associated with excessive inflammation and tissue damage.

This anti-inflammatory effect is crucial in managing acute and chronic conditions where the body's immune response is overactive or misdirected, leading to harm rather than healing. In addition to their use in inflammatory diseases, corticosteroids are also used in preventing organ transplant rejection due to their ability to suppress immune activity.

In contrast, while weight gain may occur as a side effect of corticosteroid use because they can stimulate appetite and influence metabolism, it is not a direct therapeutic use. Similarly, enhancing respiratory function might be a result of reducing inflammation in the lungs, yet corticosteroids are not primarily used to promote respiratory function like bronchodilators. Lastly, corticosteroids do not treat infections; in fact, because they suppress the immune system, they may increase the risk of infections, making them unsuitable for that purpose.