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Published on: June 8, 2014
Glucocorticoid induced bone disorders in children: Research progress in treatment mechanisms
Junying Hua1, Jianping Huang2, Gang Li3,4
1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Natural Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China.
Insights
Glucocorticoids (GCs) impair bone growth in children, causing growth retardation. Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a promising alternative to mitigate these severe side effects and protect skeletal development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric endocrinology
- Bone biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Supra-physiological glucocorticoid (GC) use causes significant skeletal side effects, particularly in children.
- GCs impede endochondral ossification in growth plates, leading to growth retardation and osteoporosis.
- Current osteoporosis treatments are ineffective against GC-induced longitudinal bone growth disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review research on GC-induced growth and development disorders.
- To explore novel therapeutic strategies for mitigating GC side effects.
- To provide insights for developing drugs to prevent GC-related skeletal complications.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of GC effects on skeletal development.
- Analysis of current therapeutic limitations for GC-induced bone disorders.
- Exploration of Traditional Chinese Medicine as a potential treatment avenue.
Main Results:
- GCs severely impact pediatric bone growth via growth plate dysfunction.
- No specific drugs currently exist to counteract GC-induced longitudinal bone growth impairment.
- Traditional Chinese Medicine presents a potential alternative for managing GC side effects.
Conclusions:
- GCs pose a significant risk to pediatric skeletal development.
- There is an unmet need for targeted therapies against GC-induced bone growth disorders.
- Further research into Traditional Chinese Medicine may yield novel treatments for steroid-related side effects.
Abstract:
Long-term or supra-physiological dose of glucocorticoid (GC) application in clinic can lead to impaired bone growth and osteoporosis. The side effects of GC on the skeletal system are particularly serious in growing children, potentially causing growth retardation or even osteoporotic fractures. Children's bone growth is dependent on endochondral ossification of growth plate chondrocytes, and excessive GC can hinder the development of growth plate and longitudinal bone growth. Despite the availability of drugs for treating osteoporosis, they have failed to effectively prevent or treat longitudinal bone growth and development disorders caused by GCs. As of now, there is no specific drug to mitigate these severe side effects. Traditional Chinese Medicine shows potential as an alternative to the current treatments by eliminating the side effects of GC. In summary, this article comprehensively reviews the research frontiers concerning growth and development disorders resulting from supra-physiological levels of GC and discusses the future research and treatment directions for optimizing steroid therapy. This article may also provide theoretical and experimental insight into the research and development of novel drugs to prevent GC-related side effects.
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