CERN Investigators Publish Paper on the Side Effects of Corticosteroids
— Categories: CERN Research Articles Posted on February 9, 2015
Corticosteroids can have many side effects that impact the patient’s quality of life and functional status. (Corticosteroids are a class of chemicals that includes the steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex of vertebrates).
The Dexamethasone Symptom Questionnaire–Chronic (DSQ-C) was developed to report corticosteroid side effects. This study’s objective was to evaluate the utility of the DSQ-C and report associated signs and symptoms in brain tumor patients, including those with ependymoma.
This study demonstrated the potential use of the DSQ-C as a screening tool for side effects associated with corticosteroid use in brain tumor patients. Future analyses should include longitudinal evaluation of severity and biologic underpinnings of variability of timing and severity of symptoms.