Blood content of tyrosine is an index of glucocorticoid action on metabolism.

Glucocorticoid hormones directly or indirectly control virtually all metabolic and physiological processes. Glucocorticoids are also shown to act on a multitude of genes, enzyme systems, and proinflammatory factors, but for these hormones there is no representative index of action on metabolism similar to glucose content in blood for insulin. The absence of such an index prevents the assessment of tissue provision with these hormones under various conditions and seems to be an essential cause of complications associated with the clinical use of glucocorticoid preparations.

[The safety problem and a physiological strategy for using glucocorticoid hormones].

Principal problems of glucocorticoid hormone application in non-endocrine diseases are discussed proceeding from the mechanism of their action and the role in organism's life. It appeared that the hazard of glucocorticoid therapy is mainly due to the absence of a test for sufficiency and real needs in these hormones. It was shown that the test has to be introduced reflecting on the whole body level the glucocorticoid activity in the cell, that is similar to blood glucose in relation to insulin.

[Experience with individual corticosteroid therapy of bronchial asthma in middle-aged and elderly patients (controlled by monitoring of blood tyrosine level)].

Blood level of tyrosine as a new clinical and laboratory indicator has been studied in bacterial asthma patients of advanced age. Tyrosine is known to affect metabolism of glucocorticoid hormones (GHs) thus reflecting GHs status of the body and permitting valid evaluation of the need in corticosteroid therapy.