title: Blood glucose level in preterm infants after antenatal exposure to glucocorticoid.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Paediatrics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Koivisto
authors: O M
authors: OM
authors: Peltoniemi
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Saarela
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Tammela
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Jouppila
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Hallman
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone