امرأة عمرها ٥٨ سنة عندها ورم دماغي مع تورم حوله، بدأت ديكساميثازون ٤ ملغ ٤ مرات يومياً لتقليل التورم، وصداعها تحسن. عندها ما قبل السكري وزيادة وزن. أي مراقبة مهمة مع هذا الدواء؟

A 58-year-old woman with a brain tumour and surrounding oedema started dexamethasone 4 mg four times daily and her headache improved. She has prediabetes and is overweight. Which monitoring is important with this drug?

1. Weekly thyroid function
2. Serum iron levels
3. Blood glucose
4. Daily cholesterol

Answer: C) Blood glucose. Steroids raise glucose and can cause insomnia, mood changes, peptic ulcer and immune suppression. Glucose is monitored, gastric protection may be given and the drug is not stopped abruptly.