Antenatal corticosteroid therapy: benefits and risks.
Antenatal glucocorticoid therapy remains one the most striking successes in perinatal management of complicated pregnancies leading to premature birth. All women at risk of preterm delivery before 34 weeks gestation should be treated, given the anti-inflammatory and maturative properties of fluorocorticoids. Betamethasone is preferred to dexamethasone and no more than two courses, two weeks apart, should be given, until the evidence from further controlled trials on repeated doses becomes available.
Baud
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Service de Médecine Néonatale and Laboratoire de neurobiologie du développement, INSERM E9935, University Hospital Robert Debré, France. o.baud@mageos.com
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000517:prevention & control; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D003907:Dexamethasone; D001623:Betamethasone