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4 . 2019

The place of antenatal corticosteroids in late preterm and early term births

Abstract

Infants born in the late preterm period and via non-labour caesarean section in the early term period are at increased risk of respiratory morbidity when compared to their term-born counterparts. The morbidity in these infants is less frequent and severe than in early preterm infants. Antenatal corticosteroids reduce respiratory morbidity in these populations; however, the magnitude of the reduction appears to be small and predominantly in the self-limiting condition of transient tachypnoea of the neonate. The smaller benefit, along with possible harmful effects of corticosteroids, raises a question about the role of antenatal corticosteroids in this population.

Special obstetric populations such as twin pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by diabetes and growth restriction are at increased risk of prematurity and more vulnerable to its complications. Nevertheless, there is limited evidence regarding the benefits of corticosteroids in these populations and potential concern regarding adverse effects. We recommend an individualised approach when administering corticosteroids at later gestations. In these specific obstetric populations, we do not currently recommend.

*1744-165X/ © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords:antenatal steroids, pregnancy, caesarean section, respiratory complications, twins, maternal diabetes, intrauterine growth restriction

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CHIEF EDITOR
CHIEF EDITOR
Degtyarev Dmitriy Nikolaevich
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Deputy Director for Scientific Research of the V.I. Kulakov Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology National Medical Research Center of Ministry of Healthсаre of the Russian Federation, Head of the Chair of Neonatology at the Clinical Institute of Children's Health named after N.F. Filatov, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Chairman of the Ethics Committee of the Russian Society of Neonatologists, Moscow, Russian Federation

ORCID iD 0000-0001-8975-2425

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