[Antenatal corticosteroid therapy: profits and risks]

ABSTRACT

The antenatal corticotherapy has proved its effectiveness in the reduction of the risk of occurrence of hyaline membrane disease and of intra-ventricular haemorrhage and also in a decreased mortality in the premature child. Some controversies still remain about the use of corticosteroid in preterm and premature membrane rupture, about the number of cures to be managed and the corticosteroid to be used. In this review we discuss these aspects according to recent data in the literature