Repeated antenatal corticosteroid treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- 20 May 2011
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
- Vol. 90 (7), 719-727
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0412.2011.01132.x
Abstract
To systematically review the efficacy and safety of repeated antenatal corticosteroid on neonatal morbidity, growth and later development. MEDLINE, Cochrane database and a bibliography of identified articles were searched for English language studies. Design. Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Randomized, controlled trials studying the efficacy and safety of repeat antenatal corticosteroid treatment on neonatal morbidity and early childhood development. Respiratory distress syndrome, intrauterine growth, neurodevelopment. Two reviewers independently assessed titles, abstracts and full studies, extracted data and assessed quality. Meta-analyses were performed, calculating risk ratios and weighted differences of means with 95% confidence intervals using a random-effects model. Eight trials were included. Repeated betamethasone treatment decreased the risk of respiratory distress syndrome (relative risk 0.85, 95% confidence interval 0.77-0.93). Trials involving weekly or biweekly repeated betamethasone and those involving a single rescue dose decreased the risk of respiratory distress syndrome. Intrauterine growth was significantly restricted among preterm infants exposed to weekly or biweekly repeated betamethasone. A single rescue course did not affect growth. Four follow-up studies did not reveal any disturbances in neurodevelopment or growth at two years of corrected age. Repeated corticosteroid treatment decreased the risk of respiratory distress syndrome among preterm infants. Weekly or biweekly repeated betamethasone restricted intrauterine growth, which raises concerns about long-term consequences on neurodevelopment and metabolism. More follow-up studies are needed to confirm the long-term safety of repeated betamethasone.Keywords
This publication has 30 references indexed in Scilit:
- Antenatal corticosteroids for preterm birth: dose‐dependent reduction in birthweight, length and head circumferenceActa Paediatrica, 2010
- Respiratory compliance in preterm infants after a single rescue course of antenatal steroids: a randomized controlled trialAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2010
- Effects of antenatal dexamethasone treatment on glucocorticoid receptor and calcyon gene expression in the prefrontal cortex of neonatal and adult common marmoset monkeysBehavioral and Brain Functions, 2010
- Two-year follow-up of a randomised trial with repeated antenatal betamethasoneArchives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal & Neonatal, 2009
- Impact of a ‘rescue course’ of antenatal corticosteroids: a multicenter randomized placebo-controlled trialAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2009
- Antenatal Betamethasone and Fetal Growth in Prematurely Born Children: Implications for Temperament Traits at the Age of 2 YearsPEDIATRICS, 2009
- Long-Term Outcomes after Repeat Doses of Antenatal CorticosteroidsThe New England Journal of Medicine, 2007
- Outcomes at 2 Years of Age after Repeat Doses of Antenatal CorticosteroidsThe New England Journal of Medicine, 2007
- Antenatal corticosteroid therapy: A meta-analysis of the randomized trials, 1972 to 1994American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1995
- Effect of corticosteroids for fetal maturation on perinatal outcomes. NIH Consensus Development Panel on the Effect of Corticosteroids for Fetal Maturation on Perinatal OutcomesJAMA, 1995