Effect of corticosteroids on the maturation of neutrophil motility in very low birthweight neonates.
Neutrophil (PMN) chemotaxis and chemokinesis were longitudinally studied in a group of 17 neonates with birthweights between 750 and 1250 g. Five of the 17 neonates were treated with prenatal betamethasone to attempt to prevent hyaline membrane disease, six received postnatal dexamethasone in an effort to reduce bronchopulmonary dysplasia, three received both, and three were not treated with corticosteroids. The group of 17 neonates were tested on four separate occasions: (1-2, 3-4, 7-8, and 10-14 postnatal days). PMN chemotaxis and chemokinesis were determined using a standard micropore filter assay. A group of 36 adults was used as additional controls. There were no significant differences noted in PMN chemotaxis or chemokinesis for the corticosteroid vs the noncorticosteroid-treated groups. In the total group of 17 neonates, there was depression in PMN chemotaxis compared with adult values, which lasted at least through postnatal day 8. By day 13 to 14, PMN chemotactic values were similar to those of adults. In contrast, chemokinesis, was depressed during the initial 14 days (except for the first 2 postnatal days). These data suggest that perinatal corticosteroid administration does not affect PMN motility in newborn infants.
Eisenfeld
L
L
Department of Pediatrics, Hartford Hospital, CT 06102-5037.
Rosenkrantz
T S
TS
Block
C
C
Burke
G
G
Phillips
F
F
Herson
V
V
Krause
P
P
D001623:Betamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000276:immunology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000276:immunology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects*
D003907:Dexamethasone; D001623:Betamethasone