Maternal and feto-placental prostanoid responses to a single course of antenatal betamethasone.
We tested the hypothesis that antenatal betamethasone alters prostanoid levels in the maternal and feto-placental compartments. Forty-three singleton pregnancies were studied. Group I were women treated with a single course of antenatal betamethasone and who delivered <37 weeks gestation; Group II were untreated women who delivered <37 weeks; and Group III were untreated women who delivered >38 weeks. Maternal and mixed cord blood; and placental samples were collected at delivery and analyzed for PGE2, PGF(2alpha), 6-ketoPGF(1alpha), and TxB2 levels. Antenatal betamethasone decreased maternal PGE2 levels with concomitant increases in the feto-placental compartment. Umbilical cord TxB2 levels in the treated group were significantly lower than the non-treated pre-term and term groups resulting in a higher 6-ketoPGF(1alpha):TxB2 ratio. Considering the regulatory role of PGE2 and PGI2 in fetal lung development and neonatal transition homeostasis, these results suggest a mechanism, at least in part, for the beneficial effects of antenatal steroids on fetal lung maturation and neonatal cardio-pulmonary homeostasis at birth.
Cho
Steve
S
Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Miller Children's Hospital, Long Beach, CA, USA.
Beharry
Kay D A
KD
Valencia
Arwin M
AM
Guajardo
Leonel
L
Nageotte
Michael P
MP
Modanlou
Houchang D
HD
D000328:Adult; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010920:Placenta / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000378:metabolism; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000517:prevention & control
D011453:Prostaglandins; D001623:Betamethasone