糖皮质激素是肾上腺皮质束状带分泌的一类甾体激素，主要成分为皮质醇，因其具有强大的抗炎、免疫抑制、抗休克、抗过敏及抗毒素作用，在临床上应用广泛。由于其需大剂量长期应用，且治疗剂量与产生副作用的剂量之间的分界较狭小等原因，往往在治疗疾病时也给机体带来了很多副作用，如类柯兴综合症、重症感染、骨质疏松症、消化性溃疡、糖尿病、痤疮、紫纹、行为认知改变等，因此，在临床工作中需充分认识糖皮质激素的副作用及其治疗原则和方法。

Glucocorticoids (glucocorticoids, GC) are a kind of steroid hormones secreted by the fasciculate zona in the adrenal cortex, whose main component is cortisol. As glucocorticoids have strong effects of anti-inflammation, immunosuppression, anti-shock, anti-allergy, and anti-toxin, they are now widely used in clinical practice. However, due to their long term use in higher doses and the fact that their therapeutic doses and side effects-causing doses are close to each other, glucocorticoids often bring many side effects to the patients, including Cushing syndrome, severe infections, osteoporosis, skeletal muscle atrophy and necrosis, peptic ulcer, diabetes mellitus, acne, purple striae, and change in behavior and cognition. So it is necessary for us to fully understand the side effects of glucocorticoids and to know their application principles and methods in clinical practice.