title: Effects of glucocorticoids during pregnancy on the outcome of the children directly after birth and in the long run.
abstract: We studied 17 mothers and the outcome of their 34 pregnancies. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine possible adverse effects on growth of prolonged use of glucocorticoids, which have been recommended for short-term use in the prevention of respiratory distress syndrome (Liggins). There was no effect on duration of pregnancy; no congenital abnormalities were seen in this small group of children when corticoids were used during the whole pregnancy. There was a slight decrease in birth weight and placenta weight and, when known, also in length in almost every case. However, after long-term follow-up all of these children except 1 showed a catch-up growth and were slightly above normal. Their neurological and mental development was also normal except in 1 child who was born severely asphyxiated. We conclude from these results that there appears to be no adverse effect on later growth in the use of glucocorticoids during pregnancy. Therefore, it is unlikely that the short-term use of glucocorticoids as recommended by Liggins would have any influence on later growth.
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011241:Prednisone