Corticosteroids for the treatment and prevention of chronic lung disease.
Postnatal corticosteroids may prevent chronic lung disease in ventilated very low birthweight infants. However, concern regarding serious neurodevelopmental consequences of therapy has led to strong recommendations to curtail use of this treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the high risk of severe neurological side effects, centers in Europe and North America continue to utilize postnatal corticosteroids, frequently in a fashion that is not supported by the available evidence.
Soil
R F
RF
Department of Pediatrics, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington 05405, USA. roger.soll@vtmednet.org
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones