E.O.S. Madarek, M. Seidhejazie, N. Najati
The effect of glucocorticoid therapy on prevention of early neonatal complications in preterm delivery
Aim: Premature birth is the single largest cause of perinatal
mortality and morbidity in non-anomalous infants
in all developed nations. The aim of this study is to survey
the role of glucocorticoid therapy in decreasing early
neonatal complications in preterm delivery.
Methods: A case control study was carried out on
300 preterm labors.Half the women received one to four
6 mg doses of dexamethasone every 6 hours, depending
on the interval between admission and delivery. Neonatal
complications were compared between the two
groups.
Results: Corticosteroid therapy was observed to have
the greatest effect in preventing respiratory distress and
neonatal mortality between 29–34 gestational weeks.
There was a significant relationship between antenatal
corticosteroid therapy interval and mortality of preterm
neonates. Complications such as respiratory distress,
sepsis, pneumonia, and hyperbilirubinemia were significantly
lower in the case group than in the control.
Conclusion: It is recommended that all women at high
risk for preterm labor before 35 gestational weeks be
given glucocorticoid at least 24 hours before delivery in
order to markedly reduce neonatal mortality and morbidity.
Journal of Perinatal Medicine, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 1619-3997
Volume: 31, 10/2003
Pages: 441 - 443
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