The effect of dexamethasone on time averaged mean velocity in the middle cerebral artery in very low birth weight infants

The effect of repeated doses of dexamethasone (0.25 mg/kg/dose every 12 h) on time averaged mean velocity in the middle cerebral artery was assessed in ten ventilated very low birth weight infants requiring treatment with dexamethasone for bronchopulmonary dysplasia or airway obstruction. The infants were studied by colour/duplex Doppler technique prior to the administration of the first and the third dose of dexamethasone, and 10, 30, and 120 min after these doses. Dexamethasone treatment was associated with an improvement in infant lung condition, an increase in mean arterial blood pressure and a decrease in heart rate. The time averaged mean velocity was statistically significantly reduced at 120 min after the first dose. This was not associated with a decrease in PCO2. The observed reduction of 18% from baseline in the time averaged mean velocity is unlikely to be of clinical importance.