Abstract
Preterm delivery represents the major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Respiratory morbidity is the primary cause of early neonatal mortality and disability. The administration of antenatal corticosteroids, in cases of imminent preterm delivery, can enhance fetal lung maturation and reduce the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome, leading to improved neonatal outcomes. The scope of this narrative review was to synthesize available evidence on the efficacy and safety of corticosteroids' administration during antenatal period, in cases of anticipated preterm delivery. Hence, for those cases, a single course of antenatal corticosteroids from 24 up to 34 gestational weeks should be offered. Betamethasone and dexamethasone are the most widely used drugs, with similar effectiveness and a recommended dosage of 24mg in divided doses, over a 24- hour period. However, there is an ongoing debate regarding the gestational age of administration. Some obstetric societies recommend their administration even at 22 weeks of gestation. Conflicting is also their usefulness in late preterm cases (between 34 and 37 weeks) or in cases of elective cesarean delivery at term. The use of repeated courses of corticosteroids may be considered in specific cases, however, concerns on the long-term outcomes of repeated courses beyond 34 gestational weeks have been raised.
Keywords: Corticosteroids, pregnancy, fetal lung maturation, preterm delivery, prematurity, timing, course, outcome.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Efficacy and Safety of Corticosteroids’ Administration for Pulmonary Immaturity in Anticipated Preterm Delivery
Volume: 27 Issue: 36
Author(s): Themistoklis Dagklis, Ioannis Tsakiridis, Georgios Papazisis and Apostolos Athanasiadis*
Affiliation:
- Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,Greece
Keywords: Corticosteroids, pregnancy, fetal lung maturation, preterm delivery, prematurity, timing, course, outcome.
Abstract: Preterm delivery represents the major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Respiratory morbidity is the primary cause of early neonatal mortality and disability. The administration of antenatal corticosteroids, in cases of imminent preterm delivery, can enhance fetal lung maturation and reduce the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome, leading to improved neonatal outcomes. The scope of this narrative review was to synthesize available evidence on the efficacy and safety of corticosteroids' administration during antenatal period, in cases of anticipated preterm delivery. Hence, for those cases, a single course of antenatal corticosteroids from 24 up to 34 gestational weeks should be offered. Betamethasone and dexamethasone are the most widely used drugs, with similar effectiveness and a recommended dosage of 24mg in divided doses, over a 24- hour period. However, there is an ongoing debate regarding the gestational age of administration. Some obstetric societies recommend their administration even at 22 weeks of gestation. Conflicting is also their usefulness in late preterm cases (between 34 and 37 weeks) or in cases of elective cesarean delivery at term. The use of repeated courses of corticosteroids may be considered in specific cases, however, concerns on the long-term outcomes of repeated courses beyond 34 gestational weeks have been raised.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Dagklis Themistoklis , Tsakiridis Ioannis , Papazisis Georgios and Athanasiadis Apostolos *, Efficacy and Safety of Corticosteroids’ Administration for Pulmonary Immaturity in Anticipated Preterm Delivery, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2021; 27 (36) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612826666201207102910
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612826666201207102910 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Blood-based biomarkers in large-scale screening for neurodegenerative diseases
Disease biomarkers are necessary tools that can be employ in several clinical context of use (COU), ranging from the (early) diagnosis, prognosis, prediction, to monitor of disease state and/or drug efficacy. Regarding neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a battery of well-validated biomarkers are available, such as cerebrospinal fluid ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Diabetes mellitus: advances in diagnosis and treatment driving by precision medicine
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic degenerative metabolic disease with ever increasing prevalence worldwide which is now an epidemic disease affecting 500 million people worldwide. Insufficient insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells unable to maintain blood glucose homeostasis is the main feature of this disease. Multifactorial and complex nature of ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Antioxidant Properties of Crocus Sativus L. and Its Constituents and Relevance to Neurodegenerative Diseases; Focus on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease
Current Neuropharmacology Immunomodulation in Inflammatory Neuropathies: Rationale and Safety
Current Drug Safety Update on Anti-TNF-Alpha Treatment in Rheumatic Diseases
Current Drug Therapy Diabetic CVD – Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase as A Target
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Therapeutic Potential of Non-Coding RNAs and TLR Signalling Pathways in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Comparison of Triflusal with Aspirin in the Secondary Prevention of Atherothrombotic Events; Α Randomised Clinical Trial
Current Vascular Pharmacology Circulating Advanced Oxidation Protein Products as Oxidative Stress Biomarkers and Progression Mediators in Pathological Conditions Related to Inflammation and Immune Dysregulation
Current Medicinal Chemistry Anagliptin, A Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitor Ameliorates Arterial Stiffness in Association with Reduction of Remnant-Like Particle Cholesterol and Alanine Transaminase Levels in Type 2 Diabetic Patients
Current Vascular Pharmacology Autoantibodies in Systemic Lupus: Quite a Lot or Just a Few?
Current Rheumatology Reviews Understanding the Role of Aldose Reductase in Ocular Inflammation
Current Molecular Medicine Update on the Use of Biologics in Vasculitides
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Omalizumab for Asthma: Indications, Off-Label Uses and Future Directions
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery Thrombomodulin Links Coagulation to Inflammation and Immunity
Current Drug Targets Effects of Exercise on Vascular Toxicity Associated with Breast Cancer Treatment: A Narrative Review
Current Vascular Pharmacology Nerve Growth Factor in Neurological and Non-Neurological Diseases: Basic Findings and Emerging Pharmacological Prospectives
Current Pharmaceutical Design Hypersensitivity Reactions to Last Generation Chimeric, Umanized and Human Recombinant Monoclonal Antibodies for Therapeutic Use
Current Pharmaceutical Design Cerebrovascular Complications of Diabetes: Focus on Stroke
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Neurosarcoidosis
Current Neuropharmacology Nitric Oxide is a Central Common Metabolite in Vascular Dysfunction Associated with Diseases of Human Pregnancy
Current Vascular Pharmacology Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Between Overlaps, Phenotypes and Illnesses
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews