Among the following corticosteroids, which has the greatest glucocorticoid (anti-inflammatory) potency per milligram?

• A Hydrocortisone
• B Prednisolone
• C Methylprednisolone
• D Dexamethasone ✓

Explanation

Relative anti-inflammatory potency per mg is hydrocortisone 1, prednisolone 4, methylprednisolone 5, and dexamethasone 25 to 30. Dexamethasone also has essentially no mineralocorticoid activity and the longest biological half-life (36 to 54 hours), placing it in the long-acting group. Methylprednisolone is only modestly more potent than prednisolone because it differs by a single 6-methyl group, so it cannot approach dexamethasone.

Reference: Katzung Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, 15th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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