title: Does antenatal betamethasone have negative effects on fetal activities and hemodynamics in cases of preeclampsia without severe features? A prospective, placebo-controlled, randomized study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether antenatal betamethasone affects the fetal biophysical profile (BPP) and Doppler indices of umbilical and middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) in cases of preeclampsia without severe features.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty singleton preeclamptic pregnancies without severe features at gestational ages of 28-34 weeks were randomly divided into two groups of 20 patients: betamethasone and control groups. Patients in the betamethasone group were administered two consecutive doses of 12 mg betamethasone intramuscularly, 24 h apart, and patients in the control group were administered the same volume of saline as a placebo. All participants were evaluated before (0 h) and at hours 24, 48, and 72 of betamethasone/placebo administration using BPP scoring and umbilical and MCA Doppler examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total BPP scores were significantly lower in the betamethasone group across the three time points during the follow-up period (p < 0.001). None of the Doppler indices differed significantly between the groups (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antenatal betamethasone negatively affects fetal BPP score parameters, including the non-stress test, fetal body and breathing movements, without affecting vascular indices of umbilical arteries and MCAs. Clinician awareness of this transient drug-induced effect might be valuable for preventing iatrogenic preterm delivery for fetuses in preeclamptic pregnancies without severe features.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Gaziosmanpasa University, School of Medicine , Tokat , Turkey.
authors.forename: Ilhan Bahri
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3068-2252
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Delibas
authors.affiliation: b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Ataturk University, School of Medicine , Erzurum , Turkey.
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ingec
authors.affiliation: b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Ataturk University, School of Medicine , Erzurum , Turkey.
authors.forename: Omer Erkan
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Yapca
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005324:Fetal Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D005333:Fetus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D010919:Placebos; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D001623:Betamethasone
keywords: Doppler ultrasonography; Preeclampsia; betamethasone; biophysical profile; fetus