Corticosteroid toxicity in neuro-oncology patients

Hospital charts from 59 patients with intracranial malignancy or epidural spinal cord compression were reviewed to establish the frequency of clinically important corticosteroid toxicities and to determine treatment or patient characteristics which were predictive for toxicity. Thirty patients (51%)...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of neuro-oncology Vol. 5; no. 2; p. 125
Main Authors Weissman, D E, Dufer, D, Vogel, V, Abeloff, M D
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.06.1987
Subjects
Adrenal Cortex Hormones - adverse effects
Adrenal Cortex Hormones - toxicity
Brain Neoplasms - drug therapy
Dexamethasone - adverse effects
Female
Gastrointestinal Diseases - chemically induced
Humans
Hyperglycemia - chemically induced
Infection - chemically induced
Male
Middle Aged
Retrospective Studies
Serum Albumin - analysis
Spinal Cord Compression - drug therapy
Time Factors
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Summary:Hospital charts from 59 patients with intracranial malignancy or epidural spinal cord compression were reviewed to establish the frequency of clinically important corticosteroid toxicities and to determine treatment or patient characteristics which were predictive for toxicity. Thirty patients (51%) developed at least one steroid toxicity and eleven (19%) required hospital admission for diagnosis and/or management of steroid-related complications. In this retrospective analysis the duration of steroid therapy and the total administered dose predicted for toxicity. Patients with toxicity also had a significant fall in the serum albumin level. Important corticosteroid toxicity occurs frequently in neuro-oncology patients. Further research should be directed at developing non-toxic alternatives to corticosteroids.
ISSN:0167-594X
DOI:10.1007/bf02571300