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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2022; 82(03): 287-296
DOI: 10.1055/a-1555-3444
GebFra Science
Review/Übersicht

Administration of Antenatal Corticosteroids: Current State of Knowledge

Article in several languages: English | deutsch
Richard Berger
1   Marienhaus Klinikum St. Elisabeth, Klinik für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe, Neuwied, Germany
,
Ioannis Kyvernitakis
2   Asklepios Kliniken Barmbek, Wandsbek und Nord-Heidberg, Frauenkliniken, Hamburg, Germany
,
Holger Maul
2   Asklepios Kliniken Barmbek, Wandsbek und Nord-Heidberg, Frauenkliniken, Hamburg, Germany
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Abstract

The administration of a single course of corticosteroids before week 34 + 0 of gestation in cases with impending preterm birth is now standard procedure in obstetric care and firmly established in the guidelines of different countries. But despite the apparently convincing data, numerous aspects of this intervention have not yet been properly studied. It is still not clear which corticosteroid achieves the best results. There are very few studies on what constitutes an appropriate dose, circadian rhythms, the time frame in which corticosteroids are effective, and the balance between the risks and benefits of repeat administration. As the existing studies have rarely included patients before week 24 + 0 of gestation, we have very little information on the possible benefits of administering corticosteroids before this timepoint. If corticosteroids are administered antenatally after week 34 + 0 of gestation, the short-term benefit may be offset by the long-term adverse effect on psychomotor development. This present study summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding these issues.

Key words

corticosteroids - preterm birth - dose - timing


Publication History

Received: 08 April 2021

Accepted after revision: 20 July 2021

Article published online:
11 January 2022

© 2022. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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