Continuation of pregnancy after antenatal corticosteroid administration: opportunity for rescue?

Abstract

Objective: To determine the duration of continuing pregnancy after antenatal corticosteroid (AC) administration and to evaluate the potential opportunity for rescue AC.

Study design: Retrospective analysis of women at 24-32 weeks' gestation who received AC at one institution.

Results: Six hundred ninety-two women received AC. Two hundred forty-seven (35.7%) delivered at > or = 34 weeks' gestation. Three hundred twenty-one (46.4%) delivered within 1 week of AC; 92 of those women (13.3%) delivered within 24 hours. Only 124 (17.9%) remained pregnant 1 week after AC and delivered at < 34 weeks. The latter were compared to women delivering > 2 week after AC but > or = 34 weeks. More likely to deliver at < 34 weeks were those women who received AC for premature preterm rupture of membranes (OR 3.83, 95% CI 2.06-7.17), twins (OR 2.90, 95% CI 1.42-5.95) or before 28 weeks (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.38-3.52).

Conclusion: Rescue AC may apply to only 18% of cases, and we identified subsets of more likely candidates.