Biochemistry. Biokhimii︠a︡
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Glucocorticoids contribute fundamentally to the maintenance of basal and stress-related homeostasis in all higher organisms. The major roles of these steroids in physiology are amply matched by their remarkable contributions to pathology. ⋯ Glucocorticoids are crucial for life, and therefore complete glucocorticoid resistance is uncommon. The purpose of this review is to discuss the many structural and functional features of the glucocorticoid receptor and also to evaluate the main clinical and laboratory characteristics of cortisol resistance.