Which adverse effects are commonly associated with prednisone therapy for ulcerative colitis?

• A. Weight gain, moon face, osteoporosis
• B. Hypertension
• C. Hyperkalemia
• D. Diarrhea

Answer: (A)

Prednisone, a systemic glucocorticoid, commonly causes changes driven by its long-term metabolic and catabolic actions. The most recognizable adverse effects are Cushingoid features: weight gain with fat redistribution and a rounded “moon” face, along with bone loss that leads to osteoporosis. These outcomes are classic and frequently highlighted in exams because they directly reflect prolonged glucocorticoid exposure and are often seen in patients treated for inflammatory conditions like ulcerative colitis.

Hypertension can occur with steroid use, but it’s less specific to prednisone than the moon face and osteoporosis. Hyperkalemia is not typical; in fact, potassium disturbances from steroids often lean toward hypokalemia due to mineralocorticoid-like effects, and diarrhea is not a standard direct adverse effect of prednisone. So the most characteristic and widely recognized adverse effects in this context are weight gain, moon face, and osteoporosis.