title: Growth in the neonatal period after repeat courses of antenatal corticosteroids: data from the ACTORDS randomised trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of repeated antenatal corticosteroids on postnatal changes in weight, linear growth and head circumference.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mothers who entered the repeated dose of antenatal steroids (ACTORDS) trial were randomised to additional weekly steroid or placebo. Infant occipital-frontal head circumference, weight and crown-heel length were measured at birth and weekly for 4 weeks or until discharge, whichever was later. Lower leg length was measured using a knemometer daily for the first week, then thrice weekly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 145 babies studied (77.5% of the ACTORDS study infants from this centre), 70 were exposed to repeated antenatal steroids and 75 to placebo. There were no significant differences in prerandomisation demographic and pregnancy data. The mean gestational age at ACTORDS entry was 28.7 weeks and at birth was 31.4 weeks. The mean birth weight was 1618 g. There were no significant differences in postmenstrual age, weight, length or head circumference, nor in z-scores for these measurements, at birth, 4 weeks or discharge. In the first 2 weeks after birth, babies in both groups showed a decrease in z-scores for weight and length. After week 2, growth improved in both groups but babies exposed to repeat antenatal corticosteroids grew more rapidly, as measured by weight gain, increasing head circumference and increasing lower leg length knemometry. This rapid growth was most apparent around weeks 3-5 after birth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Babies exposed to weekly doses of repeat antenatal corticosteroids demonstrate postnatal growth acceleration 3-5 weeks after birth.
authors.affiliation: Newborn Services, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. malcolmb@adhb.govt.nz
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Battin
authors.forename: Coila
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bevan
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harding
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006257:Head / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000502:physiology; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D001623:Betamethasone