BACKGROUND: Antenatal glucocorticoid (AGC) therapy has been associated with a decrease in respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). While preterm males remain at greater risk of RDS than females, the role of fetal sex in AGC response is not well known. OBJECTIVES: To review the available evidence regarding the effect of fetal sex in the prevention of RDS using AGC. METHOD: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs to compare the effect of AGC in male and female infants with regard to the rates of RDS, intra-ventricular hemorrhage (IVH) grades III and IV, and neonatal mortality. Random effects with 95% confidence intervals were assessed in both groups and relative risks were compared using mixed regression. RESULTS: From 248 potentially eligible articles, we included eight in the analysis for a total of 1109 male and 968 female infants. Both male and female infants had a significant decrease in the risks, but no difference between the sexes was observed in terms of reduction in RDS (RR 0.50; 95% CI 0.33 to 0.77 for males, and RR 0.57; 95% CI 0.43 to 0.75 for females, P = 0.99), reduction in IVH (P = 0.98), and reduction in neonatal mortality (P = 0.43). In a sub-analysis, use of betamethasone was associated with a significant decrease in the rate of RDS in males (RR 0.29; 95% CI 0.15 to 0.57) but dexamethasone was not (RR 0.78; 95% CI 0.57 to 1.07). Conversely, dexamethasone use was significantly helpful in females (RR 0.51; 95% CI 0.32 to 0.81) but betamethasone was not (RR 0.62; 95% CI 0.38 to 1.00). CONCLUSION: The effect of AGC for prevention of RDS is similar in females and males. However, futures studies should investigate the type of AGC according to fetal/neonatal sex.
BACKGROUND: Antenatal glucocorticoid (AGC) therapy has been associated with a decrease in respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). While preterm males remain at greater risk of RDS than females, the role of fetal sex in AGC response is not well known. OBJECTIVES: To review the available evidence regarding the effect of fetal sex in the prevention of RDS using AGC. METHOD: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs to compare the effect of AGC in male and female infants with regard to the rates of RDS, intra-ventricular hemorrhage (IVH) grades III and IV, and neonatal mortality. Random effects with 95% confidence intervals were assessed in both groups and relative risks were compared using mixed regression. RESULTS: From 248 potentially eligible articles, we included eight in the analysis for a total of 1109 male and 968 female infants. Both male and female infants had a significant decrease in the risks, but no difference between the sexes was observed in terms of reduction in RDS (RR 0.50; 95% CI 0.33 to 0.77 for males, and RR 0.57; 95% CI 0.43 to 0.75 for females, P = 0.99), reduction in IVH (P = 0.98), and reduction in neonatal mortality (P = 0.43). In a sub-analysis, use of betamethasone was associated with a significant decrease in the rate of RDS in males (RR 0.29; 95% CI 0.15 to 0.57) but dexamethasone was not (RR 0.78; 95% CI 0.57 to 1.07). Conversely, dexamethasone use was significantly helpful in females (RR 0.51; 95% CI 0.32 to 0.81) but betamethasone was not (RR 0.62; 95% CI 0.38 to 1.00). CONCLUSION: The effect of AGC for prevention of RDS is similar in females and males. However, futures studies should investigate the type of AGC according to fetal/neonatal sex.
Authors: Thorsten Braun; Wenbin Meng; Hongkai Shang; Shaofu Li; Deborah M Sloboda; Loreen Ehrlich; Karolin Lange; Huaisheng Xu; Wolfgang Henrich; Joachim W Dudenhausen; Andreas Plagemann; John P Newnham; John R G Challis Journal: Reprod Sci Date: 2014-07-25 Impact factor: 3.060
Authors: H Shang; W Meng; D M Sloboda; S Li; L Ehrlich; A Plagemann; J W Dudenhausen; W Henrich; J P Newnham; J R G Challis; T Braun Journal: Reprod Sci Date: 2014-10-20 Impact factor: 3.060
Authors: D A Iacobas; S Iacobas; T Chachua; C Goletiani; G Sidyelyeva; J Velíšková; L Velíšek Journal: J Neuroendocrinol Date: 2013-11 Impact factor: 3.627