Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
We tested the hypothesis that prenatal glucocorticoids significantly increase mean arterial blood pressure in very low birth weight preterm infants during the first 24 hours after birth.
STUDY DESIGN:
Prospectively collected data from 178 inborn infants with birth weights between 500 and 1499 gm were examined. A total of 80 infants were born to mothers treated with corticosteroids (birth weight: 1057 ± 271 gm, gestational age: 28.0 ± 2.6 weeks), and 98 infants were untreated controls (birth weight: 1030 ± 280 gm, gestational age: 28.0 ± 2.8 weeks). The study setting was a university-based tertiary care center for newborn intensive care.
RESULTS:
Mean blood pressures on admission and at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours were significantly higher in steroid-treated infants. Steroid-treated infants received significantly less volume expansion (3.8 ± 8.5 ml/kg versus 14.4 ± 20.7 ml/kg; p < 0.001) than controls. Vasopressor support was also reduced in the steroid group (2.5% versus 11.5%; p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Antenatal steroids are associated with both a higher mean systemic blood pressure and a decreased use of vasopressors and plasma expanders in very low birth weight infants during the first 24 hours after birth. This effect is not limited to infants of <1000 gm; it is also significant in infants with a birth weight between 1000 and 1499 gm, and is already detectable in the first hours of life. We speculate that this finding may contribute to the mechanism of steroid protection against conditions such as intraventricular hemorrhage.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $21.58 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Presented, in part, at the Sixth European Workshop On Neonatology,Moscow, Russia, July 6–9, 1995.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Demarini, S., Dollberg, S., Hoath, S. et al. Effects of Antenatal Corticosteroids on Blood Pressure in Very Low Birth Weight Infants During the First 24 Hours of Life. J Perinatol 19, 419–425 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7200245
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7200245
This article is cited by
-
Oscillometric arterial blood pressure in haemodynamically stable neonates in the first 2 weeks of life
Pediatric Nephrology (2023)
-
Blood pressure values and hypotension management in extremely preterm infants: a multi-center study
Journal of Perinatology (2022)
-
Vasoactive medications in extremely low gestational age neonates during the first postnatal week
Journal of Perinatology (2021)
-
Antenatal and perinatal factors influencing neonatal blood pressure: a systematic review
Journal of Perinatology (2021)
-
The Relationship between blood pressure parameters and left ventricular output in neonates
Journal of Perinatology (2019)