Antenatal corticosteroid use reduces respiratory morbidity in babies born in the late preterm period: Study

For this purpose, the researchers studied two hundred and eighty-six pregnant women at risk of having a late preterm delivery. One hundred and forty-three served as the cases and were given 2 doses of 2 doses of 12 mg intramuscular dexamethasone 12 h apart. In contrast, 143 served as the controls and were given a similar quantity of placebo.

Women were prospectively followed up, and data were collected on the pregnant women and their newborns on a standardized form. The neonates were evaluated for acute respiratory distress syndrome and transient tachypnea of the newborn based on clinical signs, chest x-ray results (when indicated), and symptoms. The primary outcome was the occurrence of neonatal respiratory morbidity.

The study led to the following findings:

· The primary outcome occurred in 3.8% of infants in the dexamethasone group and 25.4% of infants in the placebo group.

· Birth asphyxia, neonatal intensive care admission, and need for active resuscitation at birth also occurred significantly less frequently in the dexamethasone group.

· There were no significant group differences in the incidence of neonatal sepsis, hypoglycemia, neonatal jaundice, and feeding difficulties.

As the medical community continues to grapple with the complexities of preterm birth management, studies like this serve as vital guides, informing clinical practice and guiding the delivery of care to optimize outcomes for newborns born during the late preterm period.

Reference:

Shittu, K.A., Ahmed, B., Rabiu, K.A. et al. Does the use of antenatal corticosteroids reduce respiratory morbidity in babies born in late preterm period?. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 24, 334 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06304-6