The methasones (or metasones) are a class of

corticosteroid Corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex of vertebrates, as well as the synthetic analogues of these hormones. Two main classes of corticosteroids, glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, are invo ...

s which are generally used in

dermatology Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the Human skin, skin.''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.'' Random House, Inc. 2001. Page 537. . It is a speciality with both medical and surgical aspects. A List of dermatologists, ...

. They are defined by

substitution Substitution may refer to: Arts and media *Substitution (poetry), a variation in poetic scansion * Substitution (theatre), an acting methodology Music *Chord substitution, swapping one chord for a related one within a chord progression *Tritone ...

with a

methyl group In organic chemistry, a methyl group is an alkyl derived from methane, containing one carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms, having chemical formula (whereas normal methane has the formula ). In formulas, the group is often abbreviated a ...

at the C16α or C16β position of the

pregnane Pregnane, also known as 17β-ethylandrostane or as 10β,13β-dimethyl-17β-ethylgonane, is a C21 steroid and, indirectly, a parent of progesterone. It is a parent hydrocarbon for two series of steroids stemming from 5α-pregnane (originally all ...

steroid A steroid is an organic compound with four fused compound, fused rings (designated A, B, C, and D) arranged in a specific molecular configuration. Steroids have two principal biological functions: as important components of cell membranes t ...

nucleus. Examples of methasones include

alclometasone Alclometasone is a synthetic corticosteroid for topical dermatologic use, possessing anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, and vasoconstrictive properties. The prodrug alclometasone dipropionate was originally marketed under the brand name Aclovate ...

, amelometasone,

beclometasone Beclometasone or beclomethasone, also known as beclomethasone dipropionate, and sold under the brand name Qvar among others, is a steroid medication. It is available as an inhaler, cream, pills, and nasal spray. The inhaled form is used in th ...

betamethasone Betamethasone is a corticosteroid, steroid medication. It is used for a number of diseases including rheumatic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, skin diseases such as dermatitis and psoriasis, allergic co ...

, cormetasone, desoximetasone,

dexamethasone Dexamethasone is a fluorinated glucocorticoid medication used to treat rheumatic problems, a number of skin diseases, severe allergies, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), croup, brain swelling, eye pain following eye su ...

flumetasone Flumetasone, also known as flumethasone, is a corticosteroid for topical use. It has anti- inflammatory, antipruritic, and vasoconstrictive properties, and it is approved for human and animal use for a variety of medical conditions. It was pa ...

halometasone Halometasone is a potent (Group III) synthetic tri-halogenated corticosteroid for topical application possessing pronounced anti-inflammatory, antiexudative, antiepidermoplastic, antiallergic, and antipruritic properties. It has been approved in ...

, icometasone,

mometasone Mometasone, also known as mometasone furoate, is a steroid (specifically, a glucocorticoid) medication used to treat certain skin conditions, hay fever, and asthma. Specifically it is used to prevent rather than treat asthma attacks. It can be ...

, and

paramethasone Paramethasone is a fluorinated glucocorticoid with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant Immunosuppressive drugs, also known as immunosuppressive agents, immunosuppressants and antirejection medications, are drugs that inhibit or prevent ...

, among others.

Fluprednidene Fluprednidene, also known as fluprednylidene, is a synthetic glucocorticoid corticosteroid which was never marketed. An acetate ester In chemistry, an ester is a compound derived from an acid (either organic or inorganic) in which the hydrog ...

and prednylidene are corticosteroids which feature a

methylene group A methylene group is any part of a molecule that consists of two hydrogen atoms bound to a carbon Carbon () is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol C and atomic number 6. It is nonmetallic and tetravalence, tetravalent—m ...

instead of a methyl group at the C16 position while fluocinolone and

triamcinolone Triamcinolone is a glucocorticoid used to treat certain skin diseases, allergies, and rheumatic disorders among others. It is also used to prevent worsening of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It can be taken in variou ...

are corticosteroids which feature a

hydroxyl group In chemistry, a hydroxy or hydroxyl group is a functional group with the chemical formula and composed of one oxygen atom covalently bonded to one hydrogen atom. In organic chemistry, alcohols and carboxylic acids contain one or more hydroxy ...

instead of a methyl group at the C16α position.

References

Corticosteroids {{dermatologic-drug-stub

See also

References