title: Changes of the physiological parameters of very low-birthweight infants with chronic lung disease treated with dexamethasone.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dexamethasone is widely used for the treatment of chronic lung disease (CLD), but its mechanism of action is still not clearly understood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Respiratory status, bodyweight, blood pressure, urine volume, fluid intake and nutrient intake were investigated in 12 infants with CLD during treatment with dexamethasone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean gestational age of the patients was 26.3 +/- 2.5 weeks and their mean birthweight was 807 +/- 232 g. Treatment with dexamethasone was started at a mean age of 41 +/- 23 days. The ventilatory index (VI) improved after treatment was started. Blood pressure and urine volume increased significantly after treatment, but weight gain was poor during this time. Fluid and nutrient intake did not change before and after treatment. The degree of improvement in the VI after treatment was significantly correlated with an increase in urine volume.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that a rise in blood pressure as a result of dexamethasone treatment and the subsequent diuretic effect of this rise may play a role in improvement in respiratory status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Showa University, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan. ttake@med.showa-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saikawa
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: Jyunya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Narui
authors.forename: Yoji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iikura
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone