Abstract
Fourteen pregnant patients at 26-33 weeks of gestation received up to 6 doses of either 4 mg dexamethasone phosphate or placebo intramuscularly. All were delivered within 12 hours of the last dose. The mean (±SE) birth weight and gestational age of the treated group of 1405±33 gm and 31.0±1.1 weeks was not different (p>0.05) from that of the nontreated group (1600±230 gm and 30.4±0.9 weeks). Maternal and umbilical venous blood samples were obtained at delivery, and the concentration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DS), cortisol (F), cortisone (E), and dexamethasone (Dexa) was measured by radioimmunoassay with the following results (expressed as μg/100 ml):
These data indicate that at 26-33 weeks of gestation, dexamethasone will readily cross the placenta and suppress fetal adrenal function. Umbilical venous cortisol and cortisone levels at 26-33 weeks are comparable to those found in term pregnancy and the degree of fetal adrenal suppression following multiple doses of dexamethasone is similar to that seen following a single 4 mg dose of dexamethasone given at term pregnancy.
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Taeusch, H., Kamali, H., Hehre, A. et al. DEXAMETHASONE AND ITS EFFECT ON ADRENAL FUNCTION IN PREMATURES. Pediatr Res 11, 432 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00377
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00377