Meta-analysis of association of perioperative dexamethasone with survival of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma
Patients with glioblastomas can have corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone, prescribed to reduce peritumoral edema and limit neurological symptoms, although potential detrimental effects of these drugs have been subscribed. Meta-analysis of 7 studies, pooling data of 1,257 patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma, found that patients on perioperative glioblastoma had worse progression-free survival (HR 1.77; 95% CI 1.05-2.97; I2 71%) and overall survival (1.33;1.15-1.55; 59.9%) compared with patients not on dexamethasone. The quality of evidence was moderate for overall survival and low for progression-free survival. The authors conclude that use of dexamethasone in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma appeared to be associated with poor survival outcomes.