Effect of steroids on immunologic function.

There is need to recognize that steroids are not only drugs, but also are endogenous hormones that have important regulatory functions. When administered as drugs, the steroids can have profound effects upon immunologic function. The protean nature of these effects reflects the complexity of the immune system with positive and negative regulation of immunologic reactivity. Predictive effects will only be possible when there is complete understanding of the mechanistic basis for immune responses and the cell-specific actions of steroids.