Practical application of steroids in palliative therapy

Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life of patients and their families during a life-shortening illness. 32-80% of the palliative patient population receive systemic steroids to relieve torturous symptoms during end-of-life care. Guidelines for steroid use among palliative patients vary widely from country to country, but also within providers. In palliative care, steroids - mainly systemic glucocorticoids (dexamethasone, betamethasone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone) - are used especially for their anti-inflammatory and vascular permeability-reducing effects. Glucocorticoid administration during palliative care is recommended for a number of specific indications, such as neural compression, neuropathic pain, bone pain and metastasis, liver capsule pain, malignant intestinal obstruction, increased cerebral pressure, malignant spinal cord compression, superior vena cava syndrome, carcinomatous lymphangitis, and large airway compression. Often concomitant non-specific symptoms such as anorexia-cachexia syndrome, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weakness, dyspnoea may also necessitate steroid administration. Considering the prognosis of palliative patients, the late side effects of steroids do not limit their administration, the primary therapeutic benefit outweighs the potential risks. Internationally, dexamethasone is the most commonly used glucocorticoid due to its pronounced anti-inflammatory effect and fewer mineralocorticoid side effects. Careful monitoring of side effects is an important and essential part of safe steroid therapy and should be made clear to the patient and their relatives. Steroids administered in the right indication and dose as well as according to an appropriate treatment plan are useful parts of palliative symptom control and improve patients' quality of life. Orv Hetil. 2022; 163(8): 294-300.