Antenatal corticosteroids and perinatal outcome in late fetal growth restriction: analysis of prospective cohort.

<bold>Objective: </bold>The aim of this study is to evaluate the possible role of antenatal administration of corticosteroids for fetal lung maturation on short term perinatal outcomes in late FGR.<bold>Methods: </bold>This cohort study is a secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective observational study, the TRUFFLE-2 feasibility study, conducted between 2017 and 2018 in 33 European perinatal centers. We included women with singleton pregnancy from 32+0 to 36+6 weeks of gestation with a fetus considered at risk for FGR, defined as estimated fetal weight (EFW) or abdominal circumference (AC) <10th centile, or umbilico-cerebral ratio (UCR) >95th centile, or a fall of more than 40 centile points in AC measurement from the 20 weeks scan. The primary adverse outcome was a composite of abnormal condition at birth or major neonatal morbidity.<bold>Results: </bold>A total of 86 pregnancies who received antenatal corticosteroids (exposed) were matched with non-exposed pregnancies. Both groups were similar regarding gestational age at inclusion (33 weeks), EFW (1673 g) and UCR (0.68), gestational age at delivery (35.5 weeks) and birth weight (1925 g); the presented values are for both groups combined. No significant differences were observed between exposed and non-exposed for composite adverse outcome (28% vs. 24%; p=0.73) or for any of its elements.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>The present data do not show a beneficial effect of steroids on short term outcomes in fetuses with late FGR. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]