Re: Effects of antenatal corticosteroids on maternal cardiovascular system, an underestimated notion in pregnant women

Tsai, Perng Jy

doi:10.1111/1471-0528.17020

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…These uncertainties have been widely investigated and debated in the literature, such as the prudence and timing of administering a second course as well as the impact of in utero exposure to synthetic corticosteroids on the child in the long term [ 3 ]. However, a potential effect that is rarely investigated or addressed is the influence of these maternally administered corticosteroids on the cardiac and autonomic nervous systems (ANS) of the mother [ 4 , 5 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Maternal Heart Rate and Autonomic Regulation following the Antenatal Administration of Corticosteroids: A Secondary Analysis

Bester

Joshi

Dooren

et al. 2023

JCM

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While the effect of antenatally administered corticosteroids on fetal heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) is well established, little information is available on how these drugs affect maternal physiology. In this secondary analysis of a prospective, observational cohort study, we quantify how corticosteroids affect maternal HR and HRV, which serve as a proxy measure for autonomic regulation. Abdominal ECG measurements were recorded before and in the five days following the administration of betamethasone—a corticosteroid commonly used for fetal maturation—in 46 women with singleton pregnancies. Maternal HR and HRV were determined from these recordings and compared between these days. HRV was assessed with time- and frequency-domain features, as well as non-linear and complexity features. In the 24 h after betamethasone administration, maternal HR was significantly increased (p < 0.01) by approximately 10 beats per minute, while HRV features linked to parasympathetic activity and HR complexity were significantly decreased (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). Within four days after the initial administration of betamethasone, HR decreases and HRV features increase again, indicating a diminishing effect of betamethasone a few days after administration. We conclude that betamethasone administration results in changes in maternal HR and HRV, despite the heterogeneity of the studied population. Therefore, its recent administration should be considered when evaluating these cardiovascular metrics.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%