Effect of corticosteroid therapy on doppler study of umbilical and middle cerebral arteries and fetal outcome in woman at risk of preterm labour

ABSTRACT

To investigate the effects of maternal steroid administration on umbilical and fetal middle cerebral artery flow velocity waveforms and fetal out-come. Sixty Pregnant Women with singleton healthy fetuses "without fetoplacental insufficiency" complaining from threatened preterm delivery at 30-36Wks were treated using steroid therapy. There was a significant decrease in umbilical artery and foetal middle cerebral artery pulsatility indices with decrease in UA/MCA P.I ratio at day 3, day 5 after treatment, with no changes at day 7 after steroid administration and also, no significant changes in foetal heart rate. Betamethasone therapy given to the mother to avoid complications of premature fetus e.g. R.D.S., there was transient significant effect on foetal middle cerebral artery and umbilical artery "decreased PI at day 3 and day 5" after steroid administration; The effects were disappeared or declined at day 7, with no significant changes in foetal heart rate during the courses of therapy