ABSTRACT
The influence of maternal corticosteroid administration was studied on the ACTH and cortisol concentrations in neonatal blood of 24 premature infants whose mothers received betamethasone for prevention of RDS, compared with 11 untreated subjects. Cord blood was taken at birth and from venous sample in 5th day. All samples were analyzed for ACTH and Cortisol by radioimmunoassay. No statistically significant differences between these groups were noted. Additional analysis of ACTH and Cortisol levels in 9 RDS premature infants versus 26 control ones failed to demonstrate any deficiency of corticosteroids in newborn infants with RDS. The findings provide a justification for the prepartum treatment of respiratory distress syndrome with glucocorticoids because this dose of betamethasone does not expose the newborn to potentially harmful effects.
Subject(s)
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone/blood , Betamethasone/therapeutic use , Hydrocortisone/blood , Infant, Premature , Pregnancy Complications/prevention & control , Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/prevention & control , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Maternal-Fetal Exchange , Pregnancy , Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/bloodSubject(s)
Abnormalities, Multiple , Bone Diseases/congenital , Infant, Newborn, Diseases , Intellectual Disability , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/drug therapy , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Pregnancy , Respiratory Tract Infections/drug therapyABSTRACT
During the 5 years, 1975-1979, 144 infants weighing less than or equal to 1500 g (ranging from 400 to 1500 g) were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Mantua. 57 (40%) survived the neonatal period. The principal cause of death was hypoxia and hyaline membrane disease. After leaving the hospital, all the children were seen regularly to 1 year of age and 47 (82%) to 5 years of age. The infants received a neurological and physical evaluation at variable intervals; severe neurological handicaps were found in 2 (3,5%) infants, mild handicaps were observed in 6 (10,5%) infants. Pathological EEG was found in 1 (1,7%) case. The DQ was evaluated by the Gesell test; the DQ was below 80 in 1 child, between 80 and 89 in 2 infants and above 89 in the remaining cases. Three children had strabismus, none had retrolental fibroplasia. Follow-up audiometry was normal in all the subjects. The Authors conclude that intensive care increases the survival and reduces the incidence of serious handicaps in the newborns of very low birthweight.
