Ola Hjalmarson1, Kenneth L Sandberg. 1. Department of Paediatrics, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. ola.hjalmarson@pediat.gu.se
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Antenatal treatment of pregnant women with corticosteroids in order to stimulate surfactant production has been shown to be effective. However, lung structure is also affected by the treatment. OBJECTIVE: We tested the hypothesis that changes within lung acini, induced by maternal corticosteroid treatment, persist during lung development. METHODS: Twenty-two healthy infants, whose mothers were treated with up to three doses of betamethasone at 25-33 weeks of pregnancy because of preterm labour, but where labour terminated and the infants were born at term, were studied at term and compared to a group of 50 healthy newborn infants without prenatal treatment with corticosteroids. Gas-mixing efficiency was measured in terms of moment ratio with a nitrogen washout method together with functional residual capacity. Mechanical parameters were assessed with the single occlusion technique. RESULTS: There were no signs of disturbed gas mixing or changed lung volume or mechanics in the treated group. CONCLUSION: The result contributes to an emerging body of evidence that antenatal treatment with corticosteroids does not permanently affect lung structure or function.
BACKGROUND: Antenatal treatment of pregnant women with corticosteroids in order to stimulate surfactant production has been shown to be effective. However, lung structure is also affected by the treatment. OBJECTIVE: We tested the hypothesis that changes within lung acini, induced by maternal corticosteroid treatment, persist during lung development. METHODS: Twenty-two healthy infants, whose mothers were treated with up to three doses of betamethasone at 25-33 weeks of pregnancy because of preterm labour, but where labour terminated and the infants were born at term, were studied at term and compared to a group of 50 healthy newborn infants without prenatal treatment with corticosteroids. Gas-mixing efficiency was measured in terms of moment ratio with a nitrogen washout method together with functional residual capacity. Mechanical parameters were assessed with the single occlusion technique. RESULTS: There were no signs of disturbed gas mixing or changed lung volume or mechanics in the treated group. CONCLUSION: The result contributes to an emerging body of evidence that antenatal treatment with corticosteroids does not permanently affect lung structure or function.