Budesonide mixed with surfactant did not affect neurodevelopmental outcomes at 6 or 18 months corrected age in observational cohorts.

Background: The addition of budesonide to surfactant in very-low-birth-weight infants with less severe RDS decreased bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) severity. Long-term neurodevelopmental follow-up was needed to monitor for systemic effects of budesonide.
Methods: Infants ≤1250 g who received intratracheal budesonide (0.25 mg/kg) with surfactant (n = 173) were compared to a historical cohort who received surfactant alone (n = 294). Peabody Developmental Motor Scales II at 4-6 months corrected age and Bayley Scales of Infant & Toddler Development III at 18-22 months corrected age were compared.
Results: There were no differences in muscle tone or motor skills by Peabody exam. There were no differences in the cognitive, language, or motor domains between cohorts on Bayley III.
Conclusions: In a cohort of infants treated with budesonide mixed with surfactant, there were no differences in developmental outcomes at 4-6 months or 18-22 months corrected age.
(© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.)