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Review of the Antenatal and Postnatal Use of Steroids

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Abstract

Antenatal and postnatal corticosteroids play an extremely important role in the management of premature infants. The antenatal administration of steroids has been universally implemented. They have not only been shown to reduce the incidence and severity of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), but also have an impact on the incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and possibly retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) by reducing the need for supplemental oxygen due to improved lung function. The postnatal use of dexamethasone in ventilated infants has been adopted with caution, as there have been several reports of long-term neurodevelopmental complications with this therapy. Hence, changes in dosage and indications and the search for alternative therapies has emerged. Hydrocortisone appears to be a good alternative, with reassuring long-term evaluations thus far.

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Dr. Apostolos Papageorgiou will act as guarantor for this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neonatology, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Julie Bartholomew, Lajos Kovacs & Apostolos Papageorgiou

  2. Department of Neonatology, Jewish General Hospital, 3755 Côte Ste-Catherine Road, Room B-605, Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1E2, Canada

    Apostolos Papageorgiou

Authors
  1. Julie Bartholomew
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  2. Lajos Kovacs
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  3. Apostolos Papageorgiou
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Correspondence to Apostolos Papageorgiou.

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Guest Editor: Dr. Dharmapuri Vidyasagar

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Bartholomew, J., Kovacs, L. & Papageorgiou, A. Review of the Antenatal and Postnatal Use of Steroids. Indian J Pediatr 81, 466–472 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-014-1376-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-014-1376-9

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