title: Glucocorticoids and preterm hypoxic-ischemic brain injury: the good and the bad.
abstract: Fetuses at risk of premature delivery are now routinely exposed to maternal treatment with synthetic glucocorticoids. In randomized clinical trials, these substantially reduce acute neonatal systemic morbidity, and mortality, after premature birth and reduce intraventricular hemorrhage. However, the overall neurodevelopmental impact is surprisingly unclear; worryingly, postnatal glucocorticoids are consistently associated with impaired brain development. We review the clinical and experimental evidence on how glucocorticoids may affect the developing brain and highlight the need for systematic research.
authors.affiliation: Fetal Physiology and Neuroscience Group, Department of Physiology, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. l.bennet@auckland.ac.nz
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bennet
authors.forename: Joanne O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koome
authors.forename: Alistair Jan
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Gunn
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids