[Effect of repetitive prenatal corticosteroid medication on intrauterine growth and growth in early childhood].
OBJECTIVE
The evaluation of the effects of repeated antenatal corticosteriod (CS) medication on birth size and size at the age of 4 years.


METHODS
82 children exposed to CS initially between 26 and 28 weeks of gestation were matched with 82 controls of the same gestational age and sex.


RESULTS
No differences were observed between the CS and control groups with regard to weight, head circumference, and length at birth and at the age of 4 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study failed to demonstrate that repetitive antenatal medication with CS in order to induce lung maturation has a negative impact on intrauterine growth and growth in early childhood.
Hasbargen
U
U
Klinik und Poliklinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Klinikum Grosshadern der Universität München, Deutschland. hasbargen@gyn.med.uni-muenchen.de
Dadze
A K
AK
Reber
D
D
Strauss
A
A
Musäus
J
J
Hillemanns
P
P
Schulze
A
A
D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects*; D002508:Cephalometry; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
D001623:Betamethasone