This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Kay, H. H. Articles by Dudley, D. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kay, H. H. Articles by Bird, I. M. Articles by Coe, C. L. Articles by Dudley, D. J. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Antenatal Steroid Treatment and Adverse Fetal Effects: What Is the Evidence?

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin, the Harlow Primate Laboratory, University of Wisconsin; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas; hhkay{at}facstaff.wisc.edu

Ian M. Bird, PhD

Christopher L. Coe, PhD

Donald J. Dudley, MD

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin; Harlow Primate Laboratory, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas

This article reviews current animal and human data regarding possible adverse fetal effects from antenatal steroid treatment. Although it is now well accetped that such treatment is of benefit to fetal lung development, the potential for adverse fetal outcomes as a result of single or multiple glucocorticoid dosing has not been widely recognized. There are now growing concerns, based on animal and some human data, that repeated antenatal doses could lead to a decrease in birth weight, a decrease in fetal brain and other organ size, and abnormal neuronal development. Previous investigations have been hampered by nonstandardization in the type of glucocorticoid, route of delivery, timing of administration, and number of treatment courses. It is recommended that these concerns be addressed through large randomized, controlled clinical trials. In the meantime, it would be prudent to minimize antenatal steroid treatments to a single course with repeated dosing only if there is a persistent threat of preterm delivery. THe practice of giving weekly injections of steroids starting at fetal viability and continuing into the third trimester is not supported.

Key Words: Antenatal steroid treatment • adverse fetal effects

Journal of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, Vol. 7, No. 5, 269-278 (2000)
DOI: 10.1177/107155760000700501


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?