Effect of antenatal corticosteroids on postmortem brain weight of preterm babies.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of single and repeated courses of antenatal corticosteroids on brain growth in very preterm babies.


METHODS
Retrospective study of 110 very preterm babies delivered at a single University Teaching Hospital between 1992 and 1999 who had a full necropsy including detailed examination of the brain.


RESULTS
Mean brain weight did not differ significantly between babies who received corticosteroids and those who did not 160 vs. 157 g, (p=0.82), nor was there a difference between mean brain weight of stillborn or liveborn babies in relation to steroid use 164 vs. 159 g, (p=0.84) and 156 vs. 152g (p=0.81). There was no apparent dose-response relationship between the total number of doses of corticosteroids or timing since the first dose of corticosteroids and brain weight, p=0.95 and p=0.87.


CONCLUSIONS
Single and multiple courses of antenatal corticosteroids had no significant effect on brain growth in babies delivered preterm who died but long-term follow-up studies are required to evaluate the functional neurological outcome of surviving children.
Murphy
D J
DJ
Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Bristol, St. Michael's Hospital, Southwell St., Bristol BS2 8EG, UK. d.j.murphy@bristol.ac.uk
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000187:drug effects*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone