Incomplete Antenatal Steroid Therapy Can Enhance Outcomes in Preterm Infants with Emergency Conditions

Abstract

<p><strong>Objective</strong>: We aimed to investigate the role of incomplete of antenatal steroid therapy by comparing with no and complete steroid exposure on mortality and morbidity in preterm infants.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong>This is a prospective,observational study which includes preterm infants of 32 weeks of gestation and/or≤1500 grams who were referred to Izmir Dr.Behçet Uz Children's Hospital NICU during the one year period. Infants were divided into three groups according to the administration of antenatal steroid as those who received incomplete-dose antenatal steroid, complete dose steroid therapy and those with no steroid exposure. Intubation at delivery room, surfactant requirement,the inotropic requirement in the first 72 hours and morbidities associated with prematurity were determined as the primary results. Mortality and bronchopulmonary dysplasia at discharge and stage ≥2 retinopathy were analyzed as secondary outcomes.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Results:</strong> We found that 54 infants were born with a incomplete dose, 55 infants with complete dose and 38 infants with no steroid therapy. Surfactant requirement, ,intubation requirement,inotropic requirement and hsPDA were lower in the steroid group leading to a statistical difference (p<0.05).Also it was found that mortality and BPD were lower in the single-dose group,leading to a statistical difference (p<0.05).</p><p><strong><em>Conclusion</em></strong><em>:</em>We speculate that even single-dose steroid may reduce mortality by reducing RDS.</p>