title: Haematological effects of betamethasone treatment in late pregnancy.
abstract: To assess the maternal haematological effects of betamethasone administered in late pregnancy, an automated full blood count was performed before and daily for 5 days after betamethasone in 25 women with a singleton pregnancy between 23 and 33 weeks' gestation. From a mean (+/- SD) baseline level of 11.0+/-2.2 x 10(9)/L, the total white cell count increased significantly to 13.2+/-2.9 x 10(9)/L and 13.5+/-3.1 x 10(9)/L on the first and second day after treatment respectively, returning to baseline on day 3 (p<0.0001, ANOVA). These changes represented a mean increase in the neutrophil count of 35% and a mean decrease in the lymphocyte count of 23%. While there was considerable intersubject variation in the extent of the changes, this study has quantified the leucocytosis induced by betamethasone in late pregnancy, information that may assist with the clinical evaluation of a woman at risk of preterm delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ekkel
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cotter
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tippett
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Catalano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000187:drug effects*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D001623:Betamethasone