title: Hydrocortisone vs. dexamethasone treatment for bronchopulmonary dysplasia and their effects on general movements in preterm infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hydrocortisone (HC) and dexamethasone (DXM) are used to treat preterm infants at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). This may, however, affect their long-term neurological development. We aimed to determine the effect of HC and DXM therapy in preterm infants on neurological functioning as assessed by the quality of general movements (GMs) until 3 months after term.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found no difference in the quality of GMs between HC and DXM infants until term age. At 3 months, HC infants had a higher median motor optimality score (MOS) than DXM infants (25 vs. 21, P = 0.015). In the DXM group, MOS on the first day of treatment was lower than before treatment (10 vs. 11, P = 0.030).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MOS decreased in DXM infants on the first day following treatment and at 3 months after term. This was not the case in HC infants. Our study suggests that neurological functioning at 3 months after term is better in infants treated with HC than in infants treated with DXM.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a longitudinal, observational study including 56 preterm infants (n = 17 HC, n = 17 DXM, n = 22 controls). GM quality, videoed before and after treatment, was assessed. In addition, a MOS was assigned to details of the GMs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. m.m.hitzert@umcg.nl
authors.forename: Marrit M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hitzert
authors.forename: Manon J N L
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Benders
authors.forename: Annemiek M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Roescher
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van Bel
authors.forename: Linda S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: Arend F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Bos
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone