The effect of a single course of antenatal corticosteroids on maternal adrenal function at term

The Journal of Maternal-fetal & Neonatal Medicine : the Official Journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians
D S McKenna, A D Fisk

Abstract

To determine if one course of antenatal corticosteroids at 32 weeks produces maternal adrenal suppression at term. The adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test was administered at 38 weeks to 11 pregnant women who had received a single course of antenatal betamethasone prior to 33 weeks and to six control subjects. There was no difference in basal cortisol levels (mean+/-standard deviation) between the two groups: 41.6+/-6.9 microg/dl for controls versus 36.0+/-7.8 microg/dl for the steroid group, p=0.16. Peak cortisol levels at 45 min following ACTH stimulation were not different: 61.6+/-3.5 microg/dl for controls versus 55.0+/-2.6 microg/dl for the steroid group, p=0.16. The power of the study to detect a statistical difference in the observed peak cortisol levels was greater than 95%. None of the study subjects had laboratory criteria or clinical signs of adrenal suppression. A single course of betamethasone for women at risk for preterm delivery does not produce adrenal insufficiency at term and stress dose steroids are not recommended.

References

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Nov 14, 1997·Obstetrics and Gynecology·D A TerroneR C Miller
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Sep 19, 2000·American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology·D S McKennaP Samuels

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Citations

Nov 26, 2008·Biological Research for Nursing·Madalynn NeuJoAnn Robinson
Apr 21, 2021·Psychoneuroendocrinology·David Q StoyeRebecca M Reynolds

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Addison's disease, also known as primary adrenal insufficiency and hypocortisolism, is a long-term endocrine disorder in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough steroid hormones. Discover the latest research on Addison's disease here.

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