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Article: Use of anabolic steroids to attenuate the effects of glucocorticoids on the rat diaphragm. (Research Reports).
- Article from:
- Physical Therapy
- Article date:
- January 1, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 American Physical Therapy Association, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Because of their potent anti-inflammatory effects, glucocorticoids are used to manage numerous clinical disorders, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. (1) However, one serious side effect of glucocorticoids is the catabolic effect of glucocorticoids on muscle tissue. (1) Glucocorticoids stimulate the breakdown of muscle into amino acids (2) and decrease protein synthesis rates, (3) both of which result in muscle atrophy. Because the diaphragm is the primary inspiratory muscle, the development of diaphragm muscle atrophy and the resulting loss of force production may have deleterious effects in patients with lung disease.
High doses of ...