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. 1999 Jan;180(1 Pt 1):114-21.
doi: 10.1016/s0002-9378(99)70160-2.

Repeated antenatal corticosteroids: size at birth and subsequent development

N P French  1 , R Hagan, S F Evans, M Godfrey, J P Newnham
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Repeated antenatal corticosteroids: size at birth and subsequent development

N P French et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1999 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: The objective was to study the effects of repeated antenatal corticosteroids on birth size, growth, and development in preterm infants.

Study design: This observational study followed up for 3 years a prospective geographic cohort in the state of Western Australia of 477 singleton infants born at <33 weeks' gestation.

Results: Birth weight ratio decreased with increasing number of corticosteroid courses (P =.001), and multivariate analyses confirmed a reduction in birth weight of as much as 9% (P =.014) and a reduction in head circumference of as much as 4% (P =.0024). There were no additional benefits in mortality or respiratory outcomes, and there was a trend toward more severe chronic lung disease. At age 3 years growth and severe disability outcomes did not appear to be related to increasing number of corticosteroid courses.

Conclusions: In this cohort study repeated corticosteroid courses were associated with adverse effects on size at birth without apparent benefits. These changes have the potential to affect later development.

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