Effect of prenatal glucocorticoid treatment on size at birth among infants born at term gestation.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether prenatal treatment with a single course of glucocorticoids (GCs) affects size at birth among full-term infants independent of fetal size before GC administration or exposure to preterm labor (PTL).


METHODS
In all, 105 full-term infants were recruited into three study groups (30 GC treated; 60 controls matched for gestational age (GA) at birth and sex; and 15 PTL controls without GC exposure). Size of the infants was estimated before treatment using two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound and by direct measurement at birth.


RESULTS
Length, weight and head circumference at birth were smaller among GC-treated infants compared with matched controls (P's<0.01), although fetal size did not differ before treatment (P's>0.2). Exposure to PTL did not account for this effect.


CONCLUSIONS
Prenatal treatment with a single course of GCs was associated with a reduction in size at birth among infants born at term gestation. This effect cannot be explained by differences in fetal size before treatment or exposure to PTL.
Davis
E P
EP
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Orange, CA 92677, USA. edavis@uci.edu
Waffarn
F
F
Uy
C
C
Hobel
C J
CJ
Glynn
L M
LM
Sandman
C A
CA
D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000188:drug therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001623:Betamethasone