title: Antenatal corticosteroids in the late preterm period: A prospective cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study objective was to examine the effect of antenatal corticosteroids on the incidence of short-term neonatal morbidities in singletons born during the late preterm period.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective cohort study of singleton gestations at risk of imminent delivery between 34 0/7 and 36 6/7 weeks. Short-term neonatal morbidities were compared between the corticosteroid exposed and non-exposed groups. The rates of Neonatal Morbidity Composite and Any Adverse Neonatal Morbidity were then compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the two-year study period, a total of 295 subjects were included. Of those, 74 were exposed to antenatal corticosteroids, while 221 cases constituted the non-exposed group. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of Any Adverse Neonatal Morbidity (47.3% vs. 40.7% , p = 0.32) or the rate of Neonatal Morbidity Composite (34.4% vs. 37.8% , p = 0.59) between the two groups. Additionally, there was no statistically significant difference in the rates of neonatal intensive care unit admission, respiratory distress syndrome, transient tachypnea of the newborn, hypothermia, and need for phototherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administration of antenatal corticosteroids to parturients at risk of imminent delivery during the late preterm period does not appear to reduce short-term neonatal morbidities.
authors.affiliation: Makassed General Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ramadan
authors.affiliation: Makassed General Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.affiliation: Makassed General Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Saheb
authors.affiliation: Makassed General Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rajab
authors.affiliation: American University of Beirut Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Beirut, Lebanon.|Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Mirza
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones
keywords: Antenatal corticosteroids; late preterm; neonatal morbidity; prematurity; respiratory morbidity