title: Gestational age at glucocorticoids administration after premature rupture of membranes and cerebral white matter damage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated whether gestational age at glucocorticoids administration in very preterm premature rupture of membranes (PROM) affects the occurrence of neonatal cerebral white matter damage (WMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cohort of singleton neonates born at 24.0-33.6 weeks after PROM who underwent at least one full course of glucocorticoids (n = 130), we compared the gestational age at first and last course of glucocorticoids between those who developed WMD (n = 8) and those who did not (n = 122) after adjusting for gestational age at PROM using logistic regression with P < 0.05 considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gestational age at first course of glucocorticoids (P = 0.2), at last course of glucocorticoids (P = 0.2) and at delivery (P = 0.2), were not significantly different between those who developed WMD and those who did not. Although latency between PROM and first course of glucocorticoids was protective against WMD (P = 0.02), the significance was lost after controlling for gestational age at PROM, which was significantly lower in cases that developed WMD (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In very preterm PROM, the beneficial effect of glucocorticoids on occurrence of WMD is not related to gestational age at steroid administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano- Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Locatelli
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghidini
authors.forename: Maddalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Incerti
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Toso
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Plevani
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andreani
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paterlini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000151:congenital* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids