Praveen Kumar1, Roopa Seshadri. 1. Department of Pediatrics (P.K.), Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the neonatal morbidity and the growth in very low birth-weight (VLBW) infants after exposure to multiple courses of antenatal steroids. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 319 VLBW infants were placed in one of the two groups based on exposure to antenatal steroids: Group 1: less than two complete courses; Group 2: two complete courses or more. Anthropometric measurements at birth and discharge and neonatal morbidity were recorded. Composite morbidity was defined as presence of any of the following: death, chronic lung disease, major intraventricular hemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia. RESULTS: The composite morbidity was not significantly different between the two groups (p=0.26). A significantly higher percentage of infants born after multiple courses of antenatal steroids had head circumference below 10th percentile at discharge (23 vs 9%, adjusted OR, 3.25, (95% CI, 1.4, 7.3); p=0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Multiple courses of antenatal steroids may predispose VLBW infants to impairment of postnatal somatic growth without providing any additional benefit for immediate neonatal outcome. Journal of Perinatology (2005) 25, 698-702. doi:10.1038/sj.jp.7211393; published online 6 October 2005.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the neonatal morbidity and the growth in very low birth-weight (VLBW) infants after exposure to multiple courses of antenatal steroids. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 319 VLBW infants were placed in one of the two groups based on exposure to antenatal steroids: Group 1: less than two complete courses; Group 2: two complete courses or more. Anthropometric measurements at birth and discharge and neonatal morbidity were recorded. Composite morbidity was defined as presence of any of the following: death, chronic lung disease, major intraventricular hemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia. RESULTS: The composite morbidity was not significantly different between the two groups (p=0.26). A significantly higher percentage of infants born after multiple courses of antenatal steroids had head circumference below 10th percentile at discharge (23 vs 9%, adjusted OR, 3.25, (95% CI, 1.4, 7.3); p=0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Multiple courses of antenatal steroids may predispose VLBW infants to impairment of postnatal somatic growth without providing any additional benefit for immediate neonatal outcome. Journal of Perinatology (2005) 25, 698-702. doi:10.1038/sj.jp.7211393; published online 6 October 2005.