title: Fetal and neonatal outcomes after term and preterm delivery following betamethasone administration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of betamethasone on fetal growth and neonatal outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study was performed of deliveries that occurred at Charité University Hospital Berlin, Germany, between January 1996 and December 2008. The betamethasone group included women with preterm labor and symptomatic contractions, cervical insufficiency, preterm premature rupture of membranes, or vaginal bleeding. Women in the control group were matched for gestational age at time of delivery and had not received betamethasone. Fetal growth changes and neonatal anthropometry were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 1799 newborns in the betamethasone group and 42 240 in the control group, betamethasone was associated with significantly lower birth weight (154 g lower on average) after adjusting for confounders (e.g. hypertension, smoking, and maternal weight), sex, and gestational age at delivery (P<0.05). The higher the dose, the greater the difference in mean birth weight versus controls in births before 34(+0)weeks (≤16 mg -444 g; 24 mg -523 g; >24 mg -811 g), without a detectable improvement in neonatal morbidity or mortality. There was a dose-dependent decline in expected fetal weight gain as estimated by serial ultrasonography examinations 6-8 weeks after betamethasone administration (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Betamethasone exposure reduces fetal weight gain in a dose-dependent manner without improving neonatal morbidity or mortality.
authors: Departments of Obstetrics and Division of Experimental Obstetrics, Study Group Perinatal Programming, Charité Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: thorsten.braun@charite.de.
authors: Thorsten
authors: T
authors: Braun
authors: Departments of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors: Deborah M
authors: DM
authors: Sloboda
authors: Medical Faculty Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors: Boris
authors: B
authors: Tutschek
authors: Departments of Obstetrics and Division of Experimental Obstetrics, Study Group Perinatal Programming, Charité Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Harder
authors: Department of Physiology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors: John R G
authors: JR
authors: Challis
authors: Departments of Obstetrics and Division of Experimental Obstetrics, Study Group Perinatal Programming, Charité Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Joachim W
authors: JW
authors: Dudenhausen
authors: Departments of Obstetrics and Division of Experimental Obstetrics, Study Group Perinatal Programming, Charité Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Plagemann
authors: Departments of Obstetrics and Division of Experimental Obstetrics, Study Group Perinatal Programming, Charité Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Henrich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001724:Birth Weight; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000188:drug therapy; D005858:Germany; D005865:Gestational Age; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D047929:Term Birth / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D001623:Betamethasone
keywords: Betamethasone; Birth weight; Dose; Glucocorticoid; Sex