The Lipid Bilayer Provides a Site for Cortisone Crystallization at High Cortisone Concentrations

Cortisone is an injected anti-inflammatory drug that can cause painful side effects known as “steroid flares” which are caused by cortisone crystallizing at the injection site. We used molecular dynamics simulations and X-ray diffraction to study the interaction of cortisone with model lipid membranes. We find that that the lipid bilayer provides a site for cortisone crystallization and that membrane interactions are responsible for the occurrence of cortisone flares in patients after cortisone injections.