MEDLINE/PubMed Journal Browser Search

Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

Title: Antenatal steroid use is associated with increased gastroesophageal reflux in neonates.
Author: Chin SO, Brodsky NL, Bhandari V.
Journal: Am J Perinatol; 2003 May; 20(4):205-13. PubMed ID: 12874732.
Abstract:
The objective of this study was to analyze if repetitive administration of antenatal steroids (ANS) had an adverse impact on neonatal outcome at hospital discharge in premature infants. We used a retrospective analysis of 306 infants of gestational age (GA) < or = 34 weeks born between January 1997 and June 1999. A detailed review of maternal and neonatal charts was done. Seventy-one percent (216/306) received ANS. While there was no difference in birth weight (1.37 +/- 0.04 versus 1.49 +/- 0.06 kg; p = 0.09), infants receiving ANS were of lesser GA (29.5 +/- 0.2 versus 30.5 +/- 0.4 weeks; p = 0.02). More babies who received ANS had clinical evidence of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) [59/216 (27%) versus 11/90 (12%); p = 0.007]. After correcting for GA, infants receiving ANS were less likely to need surfactant (p = 0.03) and more likely to be diagnosed with clinical GER (p = 0.02). Ninety (29%) infants received no ANS, 47 (15%) received a suboptimal course, 112 (37%) infants received 1 course of ANS, and 57 (19%) infants received > or = 2 courses. There was a significant increase in the incidence of GER with increasing courses of ANS: 0 course 11/90 (12%), suboptimal 12/47 (26%), 1 course 28/112 (25%), 2 or more courses 18/57 (32%); p = 0.006, linear trend. The increased incidence of GER (p = 0.01) still held true among infants who had GER confirmed by a pH-probe study. Use of ANS is associated with a significantly decreased need for surfactant; however, there is an increased incidence of GER.

[Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]