Is there a beneficial effect of single dose antenatal steroid therapy on mortality and morbidities in infants <30 weeks gestational age?

Abstract

Aim: Our knowledge regarding the impact of single dose antenatal corticosteroid treatment on neonatal morbidities of VLBW is still scarce. In this study we aimed evaluate outcomes of infants born <30 weeks' gestation that received no ACS, partial course of ACS, and complete course of ACS. Material and Method: In this retrospective study, infants <30 weeks in gestation at birth were included and divided into three groups based on exposure to ACS; Group 1, infants born without ACS exposure, Group 2, infants born after exposure to one dose of betamethasone, Group 3, infants born after exposure to complete course. Our primary outcome was mortality. Secondary outcomes included the following: PDA, NEC, severe IVH, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and cystic periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). Results: 616 infants were included. The incidence of chorioamnionitis was significantly higher in the complete course ACS group ( p<0.05). The mortality rate was highest in the no ACS group (16.0%) compared to other groups but not statistically different. There was a trend toward lower morbidity in the partial course ACS group compared to none. Conclusion: As a result, we found no statistically significant benefit of incomplete antenatal corticosteroids in infants born <30 weeks' gestation.

Keywords

• antenatal corticosteroids
• betamethasone
• neonatal outcomes
• very low birth weight infants

References

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