Infant cortisol response after prolonged antenatal prednisolone treatment.
Prednisolone is widely used to treat medical conditions in pregnancy, despite the lack of long-term safety studies on infants. Animal studies have shown that antenatal glucocorticoid treatment can cause in utero growth restriction and up-regulation of the offsprings' hypathalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. We recruited women treated antenatally with prednisolone, and followed 12 of the infants up to four months, using routine infant vaccinations as a stressor. Birthweights were similar to controls (n = 289, uncomplicated, singleton term pregnancies), as were infants' baseline and stress-induced cortisol levels. Mothers rated their infants as less difficult and more adaptable than controls. This study provides initial reassurance about the safety of prednisolone in pregnancy.
Miller
N M
NM
Wolfson and Weston Research Centre for Family Health, Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK.
Williamson
C
C
Fisk
N M
NM
Glover
V
V
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003448:Crying; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007223:Infant; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
D011239:Prednisolone; D006854:Hydrocortisone