Neonatal morbidity and growth in very low birth-weight infants after multiple courses of antenatal steroids.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the neonatal morbidity and the growth in very low birth-weight (VLBW) infants after exposure to multiple courses of antenatal steroids.


METHODS
A total of 319 VLBW infants were placed in one of the two groups based on exposure to antenatal steroids: Group 1: less than two complete courses; Group 2: two complete courses or more. Anthropometric measurements at birth and discharge and neonatal morbidity were recorded. Composite morbidity was defined as presence of any of the following: death, chronic lung disease, major intraventricular hemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia.


RESULTS
The composite morbidity was not significantly different between the two groups (p=0.26). A significantly higher percentage of infants born after multiple courses of antenatal steroids had head circumference below 10th percentile at discharge (23 vs 9%, adjusted OR, 3.25, (95% CI, 1.4, 7.3); p=0.015).


CONCLUSIONS
Multiple courses of antenatal steroids may predispose VLBW infants to impairment of postnatal somatic growth without providing any additional benefit for immediate neonatal outcome.
Kumar
Praveen
P
Department of Pediatrics (P.K.), Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL, USA.
Seshadri
Roopa
R
D000886:Anthropometry; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D005938:Glucocorticoids