Repeated courses of antenatal corticosteroids: is it justified?
The benefits of a single course of antenatal corticosteroids on neonatal outcomes are well established. There is, however, much controversy about how long this treatment should continue, and whether repeated courses should be administered if the women remain at risk for preterm delivery 7 days after the initial therapy. This review aims to discuss current evidence on the effectiveness and safety of repeated courses of antenatal corticosteroids.
Leung
Tse N
TN
Department of Obstetrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong. dannytnleung@cuhk.edu.hk
Lam
Po M
PM
Ng
Pak C
PC
Lau
Tze K
TK
D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D001623:Betamethasone