Blood glucose level in preterm infants after antenatal exposure to glucocorticoid.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the impact of antenatal glucocorticoid on neonatal glucose homeostasis.


METHODS
This is a retrospective gestationally paired survey followed by a randomized study. On the basis of the interval between last antenatal dexamethasone and birth, 228 preterm infants born before 34 weeks were divided into Short (< 24 h), Intermediate (1-6 days), and Long (> or = 7 days) exposure groups and compared their gestationally paired controls. After a single course of betamethasone, the parturients remaining undelivered for one week were randomized to receive either one dose of betamethasone (n = 52) or placebo (n = 53). Glucose values were recorded at 11 time points in the first 3 days of life. Hypoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic values were counted.


RESULTS
There were no overall differences in mean glucose levels between the antenatal glucocorticoid and the control groups. However, the long exposure time to antenatal glucocorticoid was associated with increased risk of hyperglycaemia (OR 4.1; 2.2-7.6).


CONCLUSIONS
Antenatal glucocorticoid administration was associated with subtle disturbances of glucose homeostasis in preterm infants. These differences were dependent on the length of drug-delivery interval so that long exposition time seemed to increase the incidence of hyperglycaemia during the first days of life.
Koivisto
M
M
Department of Paediatrics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Peltoniemi
O M
OM
Saarela
T
T
Tammela
O
O
Jouppila
P
P
Hallman
M
M
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D011446:Prospective Studies
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone