What causes glucocorticoids to have anti-shock effects?

Glucocorticoids are effective in treating shock due to their abilities to suppress inflammatory responses, stabilize biological membranes, improve microcirculation, enhance myocardial contractility, and inhibit the release of allergic mediators. These actions help maintain homeostasis through multi-target regulation. If symptoms of shock occur, glucocorticoids should only be used under the guidance of a qualified physician—self-medication is not recommended. Immediate medical attention is advised.

1. Suppression of inflammatory response: Reduces excessive inflammatory stress during shock, inhibits the release of inflammatory factors, alleviates systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and prevents worsening organ dysfunction caused by inflammatory damage.

2. Stabilization of biological membranes: Protects vascular endothelial cells and lysosomal membranes, reduces vascular permeability, decreases plasma leakage, alleviates tissue edema, and helps maintain effective blood volume and vascular tone.

3. Improvement of microcirculation: Dilates spasmodic blood vessels, reduces vascular resistance, improves tissue perfusion, increases blood supply to vital organs, and corrects microcirculatory disturbances associated with shock.

4. Enhancement of myocardial contractility: Increases myocardial sensitivity to catecholamines, strengthens cardiac contraction, boosts cardiac output, improves the heart's pumping function during shock, and helps maintain stable blood pressure.

5. Inhibition of allergic mediator release: Prevents the release of allergic mediators such as histamine and leukotrienes, reduces vasodilation and hypotension caused by allergic reactions, and is particularly useful in the emergency management of anaphylactic shock.

Dosage and duration of treatment must strictly follow medical instructions. Vital signs such as blood pressure and heart rate should be closely monitored. Adequate nutrition and hydration should be maintained. Sudden discontinuation of the drug should be avoided to prevent rebound effects, thereby supporting the body’s recovery of homeostasis.