The "steroid dementia syndrome": an unrecognized complication of glucocorticoid treatment.
Glucocorticoid treatment is frequently associated with transiently impaired attention, concentration, and memory. In rare cases, cognitive changes may be prominent and may persist for substantial periods of time after steroid discontinuation. This largely unrecognized complication has been termed the "steroid dementia syndrome" and may reflect steroid neuroendangerment or neurotoxicity. Several clinical cases of this syndrome, with shared phenomenological and neuropsychological features, are presented here.
Wolkowitz
Owen M
OM
University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, 401 Parnassus Ave., Box F-0984, San Francisco, CA 94143-0984, USA. owenw@itsa.ucsf.edu
Lupien
Sonia J
SJ
Bigler
Erin
E
Levin
R Bronson
RB
Canick
Jonathan
J
D000328:Adult; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000188:drug therapy; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000009:adverse effects; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D019300:Medical Errors; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D010645:Phentermine / Q000009:adverse effects; D011241:Prednisone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011605:Psychoses, Substance-Induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001067:Appetite Depressants; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D005277:Fenfluramine; D010645:Phentermine; D011241:Prednisone; D006854:Hydrocortisone