The risks
Risks in a dexamethasone test are not known. Hypersensitivity to the active substance can lead to allergic reactions.
What are the alternatives?
There are alternative test methods available – such as a cortisol determination in the 24-hour urine collection, a so-called CRH test and an insulin hypoglycaemia test. They are best carried out in combination to increase the informative value. .
Dexamethasone inhibition test in animals
The dexamethasone test can also be used in animals to confirm suspected Cushing’s syndrome. In dogs there are two ways to perform this test – a low dose of dexamethasone (low dose) or a high dose (high dose). A high dose version allows the differentiation of Cushing’s syndrome.
One can differentiate between a primary and a secondary Cushing’s syndrome depending on the cause. In primary Cushing’s syndrome, the cause of the disease lies in the adrenal cortex. This produces an excessive amount of cortisol, although the level is already too high.
Tumorous changes can be the reason for this. In a secondary Cushing’s syndrome, the pathology lies in the pituitary gland or hypothalamus. These are areas in the brain that regulate hormone production and circulation. In a cat, the low-dose version is used. A distinction between primary and secondary Cushing’s syndrome is usually not necessary, because tumorous changes in the adrenal cortex are almost non-existent.
The costs
Since there is a medical indication for the performance of a dexamathasone inhibition test, the costs should be covered by the health insurance company. In veterinary medicine, the costs of the test are usually borne by the patient. They range between 150 – 200 Euros.
