Question

A patient is given 1 mg of dexamethasone at 11:00 pm; a plasma cortisol level recorded at 8:00 pm the next day is normal. the nurse knows that this is an indication that the patient has what condition?

Answer 1

Cushing's disease can be diagnosed through the dexamethasone test. A person with Cushing's disease has high levels of cortisol hormone. The levels are so high that when they are given dexamethasone, their cortisol levels drop back to normal. When a normal person is given dexamethasone their cortisol levels drop too low.