1. Antenatal corticosteroids for fetal maturation in women at risk for preterm delivery
- Author
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Larry C. Gilstrap, Alex C. Vidaeff, and Nora M. Doyle
- Subjects
Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Gestational Age ,Betamethasone ,Dexamethasone ,Obstetric Labor, Premature ,Fetal Organ Maturity ,Adrenal Cortex Hormones ,Pregnancy ,medicine ,Humans ,Neonatology ,Risk factor ,Fetus ,Obstetrics ,business.industry ,Pregnancy Outcome ,Obstetrics and Gynecology ,Gestational age ,medicine.disease ,United States ,Consensus Development Conferences, NIH as Topic ,Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health ,Female ,business ,Premature rupture of membranes ,medicine.drug - Abstract
The available data unambiguously support the beneficial, short-term fetal effects of antenatal corticosteroids in women at risk for preterm delivery. There are still several incompletely addressed questions, including the use of corticosteroids in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes, the optimal corticosteroid preparation to be used, and the impact of repeated dosing. These issues are discussed in this review from the perspective of recent scientific evidence on the mechanisms responsible for positive short-term effects on survival and possible harmful long-term effects.
- Published
- 2003
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