The effects of betamethasone on the amplitude integrated EEG of infants born at 34- or 35-weeks gestation.

Objective: Assess if maternal betamethasone administration at 34-35 weeks accelerated neonatal amplitude integrated EEG (aEEG) maturation.
Study Design: Nested, observational cohort in 7 centers participating in the Antenatal Late Preterm Steroid randomized trial. Up to 2 aEEGs were obtained in neonates born from 34 ⁰ -35 ⁶ weeks gestation before 72 h (aEEG 1) and at 5-7 days (aEEG 2) if hospitalized. Personnel and aEEG central readers were masked to the intervention. The primary outcome was maturation reflected by cycle frequency; secondary outcomes were border voltage, span, and discontinuity.
Results: 58 neonates were enrolled (betamethasone, 28, placebo, 30). On aEEG 1, cycle frequency did not differ, but betamethasone exposed infants had a greater lower border voltage and a broader span. On aEEG 2, both groups displayed increases in lower border voltage.
Conclusions: Betamethasone associated changes in lower border voltage support accelerated electrical activity. Further investigation is needed to understand the broader span.
(© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.)