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. 2009 Nov;29(11):731-7.
doi: 10.1038/jp.2009.85. Epub 2009 Jul 9.

Effect of prenatal glucocorticoid treatment on size at birth among infants born at term gestation

E P Davis  1 , F Waffarn, C Uy, C J Hobel, L M Glynn, C A Sandman
Affiliations

Effect of prenatal glucocorticoid treatment on size at birth among infants born at term gestation

E P Davis et al. J Perinatol. 2009 Nov.

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether prenatal treatment with a single course of glucocorticoids (GCs) affects size at birth among full-term infants independent of fetal size before GC administration or exposure to preterm labor (PTL).

Study design: In all, 105 full-term infants were recruited into three study groups (30 GC treated; 60 controls matched for gestational age (GA) at birth and sex; and 15 PTL controls without GC exposure). Size of the infants was estimated before treatment using two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound and by direct measurement at birth.

Results: Length, weight and head circumference at birth were smaller among GC-treated infants compared with matched controls (P's<0.01), although fetal size did not differ before treatment (P's>0.2). Exposure to PTL did not account for this effect.

Conclusions: Prenatal treatment with a single course of GCs was associated with a reduction in size at birth among infants born at term gestation. This effect cannot be explained by differences in fetal size before treatment or exposure to PTL.

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