Cortisone is a steroid hormone. Chemically, it is a corticosteroid closely related to corticosterone. It is used to treat a variety of ailments and can be administered intravenously, orally, intraarticularly, or cutaneously. Cortisone suppresses the immune system, thus reducing inflammation and attendant pain and swelling at the site of the injury. However, its effects on the immune system have resulted in various side-effects, particularly in the long-term use of cortisone.

17-hydroxycorticosteroid (17-OHCS) is an inactive product formed when the liver and other body tissues break down cortisol, a steroid hormone.17-OHCS is a group of hydroxycorticosteroids bearing a hydroxy group at the 17-position. Urinary excretion of these compounds is used as an index of adrenal function. They are used systemically in the free alcohol form, but with esterification of the hydroxy groups, topical effectiveness is increased.